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Collection  de 
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Ttehniul  lind  Bibliograpliie  NotM  /  NdtM  tvehhiquas  •i  biblio«ra|sliiquM 


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Covars  damagad/ 
Couvartura  andommagit 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvartura  rastauria  at/pu  palliculia 

Covar  title  missing/ 

La  titre  decouvertura  manque 


□  Coloured  maps/    - 
Cartes  gtographiques  en  couleur 


□  Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  cduleur 

r~7|  Pages  i^iged/ 
I       I  Pages  endommagln 

□  Pages  restored  a«td/or  laminated/ 
Biges  restauries  f  t/ou  pellicultes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dteolorias,  tachaties  ou  piqued'' 

□  Pages  detached/  i_^l: 

Pages  ditaeh^s 


■^ 


□ 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  qua  blauC  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Pfanches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Ralie  avec  d'aiitres  documents 


HShowthrough/ 
Transparence 


P 

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Quality  of  prifit  varies/ 
Quatite  in^le  de  I'impressi.on 

Continuous  pagination/ 
Pagination  continue        '    ,"/ 


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Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
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.La  reliure  serrie  peiit  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoretion  may  appear 
within  the  text. .  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filling/ 
II  se  peut  qiie  certain^'s  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
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^^~^a»,  lorsqu<celaejiait' possible,  fes  [iages  n'ont 
4ias  ii)ift~^f|lm^. ' .  /■  -•    ■-  ■•    /  .  _ 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplementairel: 


Includef  index(es)/ 
Comprendun  (des)  index    . 

■■*»- 

Title 'on  header  taken  ffom:/ 
Le  titre  de  I'en-tCte  provient: 

Title  page  oif  issue/       '^ 
Page  de  titre  de  la  livraison 

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Caption  of  issue/ 
Titre  de  depart  de  la  livraison 


r~~|  MasfheJKi/ 


Generique  (periodiques)  d^  lalivraisph 


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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

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Thomat  Fithtr  Rara  Book  Library,     '  - 

Onlvawlty  of  Toronto  Library 

Tha  Imagaa  at>paarino  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  oontidariiig  tha  condition  and  iagibliity 
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ThomM^  FUhtr  Rar«  Book  Librtry, 
Univtriity  of  Toronto  Ubn||y 

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1655  East  Main  Streei  ~i^  *-'*^*:- 

Rochester,  N«w  York    i    14609      USA 
(716)  482  -  0300  -  P*)one 
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RED   HAND  OF  ULSTEK; 


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OB, 


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■'    . 


THE  FOIITUNES  OF  HUGH  G*NEIIX. 


7- 

■  /■ 


BY    MRS.    J,    SADLIER. 


'&■ 


"  C6me,  let  U8  make  a  cWroiilclo  for  th«i  O^etltt.**^        ^ 


>% 


..-r^k.-" 


.  BOSTON^'*^ 

PATRICK  DON AHOE,  23  FRANKLIN  STREET.^ 

vatt.    BALK    BY    ALL    BOOKSglXBBS. 


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ED  HAND  OF   ULSTER. 


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CHAPTEJ 

''Has,  then,  the  Red  Hand  of  Ulster 
withered?"  were  the  emphatic  wor^  of  Ire- 
land's young  patriot-oratdr,  when  reproach- 
ing the  degeneracy  of  the  present  race  of 
Ulstermen.  And  what  thrilling  merffeW^s  do 
they  conjure  up,— memories  of  long-departed 
glory,  and  of  the  patrio^^truggie  renewed 
from  generation  to  generation!  "WeU  might 
Meagher  put  that  question,  whdn  seeking* 
to  arouse  the  men  of  Ulster ;  for  of  old,  that 
terrible  red  right  h Ato  was  emblematic^ 
of  the  power  and  the  strength  wielded  by  the 
chiefteins  whose  device  /it  was— the  hereditary 
princes  of  Ulster— the  great  G'Neills.  Long, 
and  fierce,  and  ever  renewed,  was  the  resist- 


A 


*^ 


.'."■,<•  ■■ 


>- 


4  BEn   HAND   or   ULSTEB.     , 

ance  Of  that  noble  hou«c.  to  the  oppressive 
rule   of   England;   and  for  ages   alter   the 
invaders  had  cstahlishcd  themselves^  m  the 
other  provinces,  the   green  hills   of  Ulster 
were  to  tWm' forbidden  ground,  and  Us  fron-^ 
tier  a  threshold  which  they  might  not  pass 
Yes!  well  may  the  true  chiUl  of  Erin  look  back 
with  melancholy  pride  to  the  days  when  the 
banner  of  O'Neill,  with  its  MDjftiaHT  hand, 

floated  ove^  the  castle-keeps  of  Tyr-owen ;  for 
the  ihal  subjugation  of  our  land  ^n  only  bo 
dated  from  the  day  when  that  snowy.flag  was 
re-placed   by  the    blood-stained  banner   of 
England-     The  Catholic,  too,  may  refer  With 

mournful  tenderness  to  that  time;  for  the 
chieftains  of  Tyr-oWen  were  as  vahant  defencl^ 
■    er,  as  the  church  hfxs  known ;  tmd  while  their 
Bed  Hand  ruled  iti  Ulster,  that  fair  province 
•  was  a  sealed  book  to  the  Beformers,  offering 
ever  a  safe  and  secure  asylum  to  AeP«;««- 
cuted  chUdren  of  the  church.    ^But  the  B*d 
Hand  of  Ulster  hath,  indeed,  withered^  and 
fellen  forever  is  ^he  stately  tree  which  heU 
t  alofttothewfld's  view.     Yet  this -^ 
-lUcl.  moteiful  a|it  is-invests  with  a  staU 


■I 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


iprcssivo 
fter   tho 
s  in  tho 
►f  Ulster 
its  frou-  : 
not  pass, 
look  back 
ivhen  the 

It   HAND, 

A 

)wen;  for 
n  only  bo 
y.flag  was 
banner   of 
refer  with 

•  for  the 
mt  defend^ 
wrhile  their 
r  province 
rs,  offering 

the  perse- 
at  the  Bed 
lered;  and 
which  held 
3t  this  very 
with  a  still 


i 


s 

■ 
1 

1 


deeper  interest  the  scanty  records  .which  wo 
have*of  theP'Neills,  and  makes  us  think  of 
their  old  banner"  with  a  mixture  of  sorrow 
and  of  pride.  Even  withiu  tho  last  three 
centuries,  (to,  go  no  faithcr  back,)  sve  find 
matter  enough  to  excuse  the  pride  and  justify 
the  sorrow.  It  was  the  banner  that  waved 
over  Shane,  the  Proud,  .when  hq,  drove  the 
English  like  sheep  befort  him,  froni  off  the 
soil  of  Ulster  ;  it  fluttercd\on  high  above  the 

ell-trained  bands  of  the  gi-eat  Hugh,  when 
y  conquered  on  many  a  bloody  field;  and 
ligain,  it  was  borne  before  nim,  who,  latest 
of  his  name  and  race,  led  on  the  bands  of 
Erin-— the  pious,  the  sage,  theWaliant  Owen;, 
Roe.  -No  wonder,  then,  it  is,  |that  the  ban- 
ner of  the  O'Neills  is  identified  ha.  our  minds 
with  that  Ulster  which  they  so  royally  riiled, 
^nd  so;^:allantly  defended. 

As  the  eye  glances  over  the  records  of  this 
illustripus  house,  it  naturally  rests-  oi.  the 
Achievements  of  him,  who  of  all  the  cflief- . 
tains  of  Tyr--owen,  most  forcibly  attracted, 
and  longest  retained  the  world's  admiration. 
I  speak,  of  course,  of  that  Hugh  O'Neill, 


6 


BED   HAND   OP   ULSTER. 


known  to  the  English  as  Eurl  of  Tyrone, 
who,  for  a  period  of  tiftcon  yeara,  kept  at 
bay  the  power  of  Elizabeth,  and  whose  genius 
first  conceived  or  attempted  to  carry  out  the 
idea  of  a  national  confederacy.*  Him,  then, 
do  I  place  before  the  greal^  and  good  Owen  , 
Koe,  and  immeasurably  before  the  fierce  and 
haughty,  though  valiant  Shane,  or  any  other 
of  their  line  of  whom  history  tells,  ^ndprc- 
seiit  him  at  once  to  the  reivder,  as  the.greatesfe 
of  airthe  O'Neills.     Together  *  we  wjll  full , 

'  over  some  of  those  scenes  w|Rch*  mark  the 
progress  of  his  eventful  life,  passing  briefly 
from  one  to  the  othdr,  as  though  they  were 

0  represented  on  the  magic  glass  of  the  great 
Florentine  of  old.  We  will  exiiltfof  a  while 
in  the  glories  of  Clontibret,  the  Blackwatdr, 
and  the  yellow  Ford,  and,  following  the 
great  earl  into  his  life's  decline,  we  will  look 

■  "■     .      •  .  ■  .'   ■      ■        ■"''■'..''''■■■"■"■  * 

.-  ,  »'      .    '  "   .    -  '..■'., 

♦'"Never/*  saya  a  French  writer  on  Ireland,  "lias  Ire- 
land produced  a  man  more  joapabto  of  freeing  her.  from 
tbo  yoke  of  England,  than  was  Hugh  O'Neill.  Pliant,  insin^ 
uating,  prudent  as  well  aa  brave,  a  skilful  diplomatist,  and  a 
good  general;  im  him  wore  united  quaiities  of  the  most 
opposite  nature,  and  apparently  incompatible  with  each 
other."  ~       ~~^  .      "  -  — 


■y: 


\  ' 


Tyrone, 
kept  at 
\e  genius 
r  out  the 
m, then, 
5(1  Owen  . 
erce  and 
ny  other 
^nd  pro-  / 
5  greatest' 
will  futi , 
mark  the 
ig  briefly 
hey  were 
the  great 
)f  a  while 
ickwatdr, 
wring  the 
will  look 

I,  "las  Ire- 
g  Uor  from 
>tiant,  insin^ 
aatiflt,  and  a 
of  the  most 
I  with    each 


KED  HANI)  OP   tnOTBR. 

'   /      '-     -  ■ '       ■■'••""*■  1'/   V    • 

With  melancholy  Jntcreat  on^he  sadly  humil- 

^'^lating   scene   enacted   within  *^   walls    of 

/Melifont,  when  the  ipurtain  may  be. said  to 

^   have  ifallen  on  Ireland's  hopes  of  indcpcnd- 

eace,  leaviiig  her,  at  lca#t,.ta  .c<?nturi««  pf 

ray  less  gloom.  '.   '        7 

It   were   long  to  tell   how/the  orphanqjtl;. 

youth  of  Hugh  O'Neill  was/ protected  and 

fostered  by  the  EnglisH  <^oon,  to  the  end  " 

.that  he  might  bo  used  alfefti  instrument  to 

,  .  divide,  and  cctoscquentl^'  we^Ren,  his  sept. 

Being  the  son  of  a  younger  bfcther  of  Shane ij 

O'Neill,  ho  was  early  pitched-Hipon  to  be  set 

up  a^  a  rival:  to  the  ruling  cMef,  Mid,  inherited, 

with  his  father's  Jlnglish  title  of  iBaron  of^ 

Dungaiin^,  the ^ preeminent  favor  of  'the 

queen,  tojjether  with  certain  lands  belonging 

to  his  branch  of  the  family.     He  was  educ^- 

ted  in  England,  and  his  young  mind  carefully^ 

trained  in  the  way  in  which  Elizabeth  wou)id 

have  him  go,  and  when  he  grew  to  manjiood, 

.  it  appeared  to  those  most  v  concerned,  that 

their  work  was  complete^  and  his  political 

principles  as  orthodox,  as  English  heart  could 

desire.     He  was  a  youhg  man  of  rare  abili^ 


■  ■f\ 


.u 


■'«i%ftw.tftomrii.yfcr 


8 


RED   HAND   OF   TJL8TEB, 


ties,  (a  fact  which  was  early  discovered  by 
the  queen,  and  made  her  all  the  more  anxious 
to  bind' him  to  her  interests,)  and  excelled  in 
many  of  the  accomplishments  then  most 
highly  regarded  -at  the  English  <;ourt.  His 
mind  was  well  stored  with  the  priceless  treas- 
ures of  knowledge,  and,  above  all,  he  seems, 
to  have  studiously  applied  liimself  to  the 
military  science  of  the  period.  .In  this  branch 
of  study  we  may  well  suppose  he  was  warmly 
encouraged  ;  his  preceptor  little  dreaming  of 
the  purpose  to  which  his  knowledge  was  one 
diiy  to  be  applied.  At  three  or  four  and 
twenty,  then,  the  young  Baron  of  Dungannon 
was  a  polished  English  noble,  of  engaging  per- 
son and  faultless  manners,  having  a  ^tongue 
that  neither  man  nor  woman  could  resist,  and  a 
p6wer  of  dissimulation  rarely  if  ever  equalled/ 
This  latter  quality  he  had,  however,  the 
double  art  to  conceal>  under  the  appearance 
of  candor,  which  deceived  even  the  piercing 
eye  of  Elizabeth  Tudor,  who  looked  upon 
the  young  O'Neill  as  her  willing  agent  "in 
all  she  hoped  to  do," — ^in  fact  her  servant  to 


command.     At  stated  times.  Baron  Hugh 


RED   HAND   0^  VLStER. 


0 


rered  by 
}  anxious 
celled  in 
3n  most 
rt.  His 
;ss  treas- 
te  seems, 
f  to  the 
is  branch 
i  warmly 
aming  of 

was  one 
bur  and 
ngannon 
^ingper- 
i  ^tongue 
list,  and  a 
equalled:' 
ver,  the 
jpearance 

piercing 
:ed  upon 
gent  "in 
ervant  to 
»n  ,Hugh 


visited  Ireland,  but  vain  was   the  lioJ?e   on 
every  visit  renewed,  that  he  would  pick  a 
V     qua^l  with  Tirlogh  Lynnoch,  the  chief  of 
•    Tyr-owen.     On  the  contrary,  while  he  stayed 
at  his  /castle  of  Bungannon,  he  occasionally 
'     p^d  his  respects  in  person  to  the  old  chief- 
^    tain,  and  mauifested  none  of  that  jealousy; 
which   might  have   served  as,  th0  basis  of 
English  hope.     We  are  surelylwarranted  m 
beheving,   that;  young   as   Ji0    was.  Baron 
^ugh  penetrated  the  motived  ofi^the  queen 
in  protecting  him,  and  took  a  seotet  pleasure 
in  thus  slily  baffling  her  viewai     Of  this,  a 
stronger  proof  soon  came  to  liapt,  for,  while 
the  queen  cast  her  eyes  around  the  noble 
dames  of  her  court  and  kingdom,  hoping  to 
secure  him  by  an  English  wife,  O'Neill  had 
quietly   gone   over  to  Ireland,  and  wedded 
the  daughter  of  the  O'Donnell,  a  lady  who 
appears  to  have  been  in  rio. way  distinguished 
by  either  personal  or  mental  attractions,  and 
hence  we  may  safely  c^include,  that  the  poli- 
fT  tic  young  lor^,  in  forcing  this  alliance,  had 
^   i^  two-fold  ol^ect,  that  is  to  say,  that  while 
■^     lie   effecMally    frustrated    any  matrimonial 


f    <■•. 


■*-  / 


i 


■:m  -r 


10 


RED  HAND   OF  XIXSTlEK. 


:]i 


plans  which  the  queen,  in  her  selfish  "wisdom 
and  foresight,  might  form  for  his  guidance, 
he  at  the  same  time  laid  the  foundatioh  of 
his  power  in  Ulster,  by  marrying  a  daughter 
of  that  princely  house,  anly  second  to  the 
O'Neills  in  poiiv^er  and  extent  of  territory. 
Moreover,  there  had  been  in  times  past  a 
protracted^  enmity  between  these  two  great 
families,  and,  when  he  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing the  hand  of  the  lady,  Judith  O'Donnell, 
he  had  done  much,  as  he  well  knew,  to 
promote  a  lasting  peace,  and  to  heal  one 
gaping  wound  of  the  many  which  festered 
in  the  heait  of  IJlster.  Shortly  after  his' 
marriage  he  hastened  to  London,  so  as  to  be 
himself,  if  possible,  the  bearer  of  the  news 
to  the  queen,  and,  with  much  difficulty, 
obtained  her  pardon.  True,  this  marriage 
was  a  severe  blow,  since  it  tended  to  unite 
those  whom  Elizabeth  aiid  her  cold-hearted 
advisers  would  have  sedulouslykept  asunder, 
but-then  it  would  not  have  mended  the  mat- 
ter had  she  punished  the  offending  baron  by 
banishment  from  court,  or  even  by  impris- 
onment ;  so  she  swallowed  her  anger  as  best 


^ 


1  • 


RED   HAND   Oip   TJLSTEtl. 


u 


she  could,  deeming  a  sho\V  of  forgiveness  her 
yery  best  course.     Bat  ihe  determined  to 
exact  the  price  of  this  clemWcy,  even  to  the 
uttermost  farthing,  and  so  she  soon  after  pro- 
posed to  O'Neill  to  go  honie  and  raise,  onr- 
his  own  paternal  domains,  sWe  troops  for 
her   army.      The   suggestionV  was   speedily 
acted  upon ;  for  it   corresponded  with  some 
of  the  baron's  ulterior  speculations  ;  and,  ina 
very  short  time,  he  wrote  to  th^  queen,  si^  » 
nifying  that  he  had  six  companieVo^^^^^^  ^ 

ready  drilled  and  duly  prepared\for4whatsoT  f 
ever  service  her  highness^  ™¥l  P^^^'^*^! 
command.      This   prompt    c^pManc^  Jt^ 
highly  pleasing  to  ElizabetJaT,  who\  ays^^ered 
the  baron's  letter  by  a  coii^eous  rdoUesi  tha^^^^  ■ 
he  would  meet  the  Earlelf  Ormonff  in  thi^- 
lin  as  soon  as  might  be,>nd  prepart  to  coop- 
erate with  that  genera^  in  parrying  on  4e 
-Geraldine  war.     Whether  hi^  destination  was 
really  a  matter  of  indifference  to  O'Neill,  or 
whether,  at  that  tim^,  he  did  actjially  lend 
himself,  in  the  heedlessness  of  youth,  to  Eliz- 
abeth's anti-Irish  schemes,  historjr  pretends 
not  to  determine,  but  there  is  reaW  to  snp- 
posethat,  liad  this  proposal  been  made  to 
^-^     '  -      —        -         i  - 


12 


,      RED   HA,ND   OF   XJLSTEK. 


hijn  a  few  years  later,  (that  is  to  say,  after  he 
had  conceived  the  project  of  freeing  Ireland, 
by  concentrating  her  own  divided  strength,) 
he  would  have  rejected  it>  if  not  with  scorn, 
•  at  least  decidedly,  and  in  all  probability  his 
soldiers  would  have  fought  for  rather  than 
against  the    grei^t.  southern    earl.      Every 
admirer   of  Hugh  CNeill's   character  and 
genius   must   deplore    this    grand  mistake, 
which  may  well  be  regarded  as  thef^tal  error 
of  his  life.     Had  the  princely,  the  kingly 
Geraldine,  succeeded  in  keeping  the  English 
at  bay>  and  been  subsequently  joined  by  the 
great   northern   chiefs^  there   can   be   little 
doubt  that  Ireland  would  have  triumphantly 
burst  her  chains,  and  become  to  Elizabeth 
what  Calais  was  to  Ker  sister  Mary.     "  But 
so  it  was  not  written  in  tfie  took;'*  Geral- 
dine fell— the  protedtor  of  the  ancient  faith-— 
the  noblest  and  inost  persevering,  aye,  and  the 
most  powerful  upholder  bf  Erin's  cause  that 
had  then  arisen  for  centuries— and  we  grieve 
to   say  that   Hugh  O'Neill,  with  his  north 
men,  had  no  smkU  share  in  Desmond's  final 


overtlirow.     —       .    •  '  ,    '    .  .;  .;-.-■■  ■  ,.-  . .■•; 
But  though  O'Neill  fell  in  so  far  with  the 


BED   HAND  JOT?   ULSTER. 


.  ,'•■4       '.  . 


queen's  designs,  he  forgot  not  to  prosecute 
his  own V  and  his  maiden  sword  Vas  fleshed 
with  Saxon  rather  than  Milesian  hldod.  Just 
about  the  time  that  he  received  her  majesty!8^ 
commands  to  join  Ormdnd,  consternation  was 
spread  throughout  tlj^Twhole  of  Ulster  by 
the  news  that  an  arm/of  adventurers  from 
England,  led  on  bjg/no  less  a  person  than 
Walter  Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex,t'aided  and 
assisted  by  many  other  noble  personages,) 
:  had  actually  landed  on  the  coast  of  Down, 

with  a  view  to  take  possession  of  all  that 
country.     Tliis  territory,  now   menaced  by 
the    English,  belonged  to    Brian    MacArt 
O'Neill,  who  had,  some  years  before,  repelled 
with  his  own  clansmen  only,  another,  but 
much  smaller  force  of  these  would-be  colon- 
^    izers  of  Ulster,  led  on  by  a  certain  individ- 
ual named  Smith.     This  worthy,  with  the 
greatest  part  of  his  followers,  had  fallen  tIc- 
tims  to  the  wdll-grounded  wrath  of  the  stout 
kerns  of  Clai*^hugh-buidhe,  but  now  the  mat- 
ter wore  a  niore  serious  aspect,  and  the  gal^ 
lant  chief  of  the  district  was  fain  to  call  upon 
the  other  chieftains  of  his  name  for  aid.    The 


I:. 


....J-L.. 

'.:■  I . 


u 


KED   HAND   OF   ULStEB. 


'4;- 


call  was  quickly  responded  to  by  all,  without 
one  exception,  and,  ere  the  English  had  yet 
obtained   any   footing   on  the  soil,  Tirloch 
Lynnoch  himself  was  on  the  ground  with  his 
large  force,  and  Hugh  of  Dungannon  swept 
up  afcthe  head  of  his  cavalry,  proud  that  an 
oppAunity  offered  to  strike  his  first  blow  iot 
Ireland  and  Ulster.     Thither,  too,   flocked 
m^y  a  smaller  band,  each  led  ^  by  some 
chief  (^  the  O'Neills^  until  Brian  MacArt,  as 
he  rode  forward  to  Welcome  the  last  whom 
he  had  a  right  to  expect,  cried— **  Enough, 
enough,   my   gallant  kinsmen !      Methinks 
even  half  our  number  were  able  to  cope  with 
yonder  pirates,  and  surely,  since  the  O'Neill 
himself  is  here,  "with  our  royal  standard,  we 
have  nought  to  fear/    The  Ked  Right  Hand 
is  now,     it  as  hath  been,  the  terror  of  the 
enen^y ! "     And  he   pointed   to  the  snowy 
banker,  with  its  huge  red  ^^id^^hich  waved 
as  though  in  conscious  pri^e  above  the  head 
<)f  the  chieftain.     Uncov6ring  his  own  head, 
-Brian  0'NeilJ:«h"pted,  in  a  voice  that  echoed 
from  hill  to  hill,   the   fierce  war-cry  of  the 


J- 


l^ 


t( 


Lfiav 


a&oo/"    An  electric 


v^ 


bj£d  hand  op  ulster. 


15 


ithout 
ad  yet 
?irloch 
ith  bis 

swept 
that  an 
ow  far 
docked 
y;  some 
Art,  as 

whom 
nough, 
ethinks 
pe  with 
O'Neill 
ard,  we 
Lt  Hand 

of  the 

snowy 
a  waved 
he  head 
^n  head, 
t  echoed 
jL  of  the 


fire  seemed  to  shoot  from   heart  to   heart, 
and  the  thrilling  Wy  was  raised  in  thunder 
tones  by  the  wh(|e  Irish  army ;  for  every 
man  there  was  eit^r  ap  O'Neill,  or  the  trib-   ^ 
litary'of  one.     Ere  Vet  the  wild  excitement 
of  the  moment  had\  entirely  subsided,  they 
were  called  upon  to  meet  the  invader.   After 
a  fierce  but  not  verV   pgrotracted   struggle, 
they  so  harassed  and  H|eset>  the  English  that 
the  nobles,  one  by  one,\gave  up  the  cause  as 
lost,  and  returned  to  England,  taking  with 
them  what  remained  of  meix  followers,  until 
Essei  was  at  length  compelled  to  sue  for 
peace,  and  finally  the  remfaiant  of  the  army 
5vas  withdrawn,  and  Essex,  me  arch-contriver 
of  the  invasion,  returned  tpVEngland  a  dis- 
fippointed  and  a  brokeU'Spirired  man,  for  he 
had  embarked  the   greater   portion  of   his 
fortune  in  this  precious  enterprise.     Hugh 
O'Neill  was  necessarily  delayied  W  *^^  affair, 
and,  on  his  return  to  Dungannom  r^eived  a 
harsh  reprimand  from  the  queen  im  the  con- 
spicuous part  he  had  taken  in  repulsing  her 
faithfiil  Essex,  commanding  him  ti^  set  oul;  ' 


instantly  for  Munstet,   under  pdnXof  her 


electric 


■■•!■• 


I 


16 


KED   HaW  OF  ULSTER. 


heaviest   dUpbasure,  and  «.)^?  f  ^J;, 
aration  he  could  now  make  for  !'"':«<=«"* 
4;sdemeanor.      So  the  baron  despatched  a 
deprecatory   answer    to    the    angry   queen 
luring  her  that  only  his  kinsman's  earnes 
suppli^ions  had  induced  ^m  to  joxn  t^ 
Irish,  "Which  1  the  rather  did,"  said  he,  ^ 
making  use  of  an  apt  evasion,  "^}-^ 
not  that  these  adventurers  hadyour^ajesty^*  • 
sanction,  nor  dc,  I  yet  beUeve  that  A.yM 
Well  knowing,  then,  that  your  highncs|?s 
solely  offended  by  my  untowar  J  delay^; m 
executing  your  royal  behest,  I  w.11  speedily 
make  amends  by  joining  my  Lord  Ormond  at 
once,  and  I  hope  to  convince  your  majesty, 
ere  long,  that  your  favor  hath  not  been 

thrown  away.  \  . 

Again  was  Elizabeth  Constrained  to  accept 

E  wUy  chief  s  apologyland  the  baron  kqp^ 

his  promise  so  woU,  thi  as  I  haveVready 

said^at^g^dos^ofthat 

aldine  war,  Ws  services 


long  protracted  Ger- 
were  fully  acknowl- 


edged 


',  to  ^e  grievous  detriment  of  Munsteryj 


-i 


and  Ireland.  t^^^^i. 

.WhileyetHughO'NeiUwashelpmgtosub. 


■■""tT 

■■>-  7 


only  rep- 
his  recent 
spatched  a 
ry   queen, 
.n's  earnest 
;o  join  the 
,"  saidh^, 
<  as  I  knew 
irjiiajesty^a 

it  they  haj^ 


highnesf'^9 
rd  delay  in 
rill  speedily 
L  Ormond  at 
our  majesty, 
;h   not  been 

aed  to  accept 
le  baron  kept 
have  already 
otracted  Ger- 
ally  acknowl*^ 
itof  Munster 


KBD  HAND  OF   t/LSTEH. 


It 


due  the  brave  clans  of  the  Desmond  country, 
the  very  po^er  (Jl^  the  O'Neills  was  threat- 
ened in  the  north  by  the  gradual  encroach- 
ments pf  a  subject  sept,  the  McDonnells  of 
Antrim,  or  the  Glynns.     These  were  orig- 
inally a  horde  of  adventurers  from  the  Scot- 
tish t/sles,  who,  having  obtained  a  footing  on 
the  northern  coast,  had  spread  themselyes  all 
along  that  rocky  region  around  the  Giant's 
Causeway,  where  they  maintained  themselves  '■ 
so  long  and  so  resolutely,  that,'iili  Course  of^ 
[  time,  they  came  to  be  considere^^^s  an  Irish 
Ulan,  and   their  right  to  the  sqil  on  which 
I' they  dwelt  was  tacitly  ackno7«rledged  ^ven 
j  by  the  liege  lords  of  Ulster— the  O'Neills, 
whose  tributaries   they  became.     The  bold 
and  enterprising  spirit  of  their  race  dwelt 
ever  in  these  sturdy  Islesmen,  and  their  coun- 
try being  little  ^vorable  to  agriculture,  they 
devoted  themselves  entirely  lo  those  warlike 
pursuits  which  best  suited  their  fancy.   They 
[Vere  a  fearless  and  ^fc^dy  race,  and  weye  in 
the  habit  of  hiring  out  their  services  to  the 
neighboring  chieftains  in  their  unhappy  intes- 


-.   -l 


•'■I    '  . 


t  ^^^ 


tin^  broils,  so  that  there  was  scarcely  a  clan 


tielpingtosub- 


^f 


.  / 


18 


itED   HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


■v'* 


■'■■  n 


•    t 
■*■■ 


t.iH 


■« 
f.-  ■  I.  ■ 


within  the  bounds  of  the  pro^nlisfe  for,  whom 
the  McDonneHs  had  not  in  turn  fought. 
Many  a  string  castle  they  built  to  fortify 
themselves  in  their  possessions  j  and  of  those 
ruins  which  now  add  so  much  mournful 
beauty  to  that^ondrous  coast,  by  far  the 
,  greatest  njimber  wwe  the  work  of  these  Isles- 
men.  Of  these,  the  strongest  a^d  most  im- 
portant was  Dunluce  Castle,  which,  however, 

.in  supposied  to  owe  its  origin  to  a  time  prior 
to  their  invasion,  having  been  probably  taken 
by  them  frona;  the  natjjfe  chief  in  whose  pos- 
session they  found  it.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
Duniuee  was  the  principal  stronghold  of  the 
tribe,  and  the  usual  residence  of  their  chief. 

These  Scots,  then,  had,  in  course  of  time, 
particularly  within  the  last  years,  waxed 
hau^tier  and  more  presuming,  and,  finding 
that  Tirldgh  Lynnoch  was  a  weak  and  irres- 
olute old  man,  they  took  advantage  of  Hugh's 
absence  to  declare  themselves  independent, 

Jind  eyen  boasted  that  they  were  the  equals, 
or  rather  rivals,  of  the  O'Neills.  Hugh 
heard  all  this,  and,  amid  the  bustle  and  wild 
excitement  of  the  southern  war,  be  |)ondered 


■4 


RED   HAND   OP   ULSTER. 


19 


;,  ■ 


n; 


over  the  means  of  reducing  these  rebellious 
Islesracn  to  obedience.  His  resolution  was 
speedily  taken,  and  forthwith  he  wrote  to  the 
queen  a  highly  colored  account  of  their  insur- 
reetion,  as  he  called  it,  proposing  to  her 
majest^that,  as  the  Geraldines  were  noMf,  he 
might  say,  subdued,  both  he  and  Ormond 
should  proceed  to  quell  tliis  new  rebellion 
against  her  royal  authority.  He,  of  course, 
had  Ormond  make  a  similar  suggestion,  and 
the  consequence  was,  that  the  queen  gave 
,  them  full  power  to  act  against  the  northern 
rebels,  specially  thanking  0*Neill  for  his 
dutiful  regard  to  her  interest,  and  the  establ- 
ishment of  jher  lawful  4iuthority  in  Ireland. 
So  the  Pesmond  war  Was  no  sooner  at  an 
end,  than  G*Neill,  with  his  English  allies, 
marched  northward,  and,  dividing  into  two 
columns,  they  proceeded  on  either  side  of 
Lough  Neagh,  towards  the  disaffected  region. 
Ormond,  with  his  forces,  passed  on  into  the 
Glynns,  was  met  by  the  McDonnells,  whom 
he  entirely  defeated,  and,  after  taking  Dun- 
luce,  and  some  other  of  their  castles,  com* 


pelled  their  chief  to  submit,  and  acknowledge 
hinaself  the  tribiitai^  of  Tirlogh  Lyxinoch.  ^ 


I  [ 


/'   ■ 


■■1^ 


20       \  RED   HAND   OF^JIJ 

O'Neill,  with  some  e)*hcr8  of  the  EftgHsh 
general^  proceeded  ttflharry  and  overrun  the 
territory \of  the  chiefs  who  had  made"  alliance 
with  the\McDonnell8,  of  wliom  the  pnnci- 
pal  was  Oy^ahan,  lord  of  A^achty  O'Cahan, 
^w  called  Londonderry.     Here  they  con- 
•#^uered  all   before  them,  and  from  O'Cahan 
alone  the  English   generirl  drove  away  two 
hundred  head  of  cattle.    Thus  were  the  Scots 
and  their  allies  forced   back  into  obedience, 
and  though  the  queen's  authority  was  nom- 
inally established,  it  was  in  reality  the  chief* 
t^n  of  Tyr-ow Ajjhy ecovered«  his  y pretn- 
-  1%.     True  itjdpipf'manjliif  tJiese   con- 
quered chiefs  ^Brsummoned  and  went  soon 
after  to  Newry  to  make 'their  submission  ^to. 
thequeen's  deputies  ;  true  it  is, that  Sir  Johir^ 
Perroti  fancying  the  independence  of  tJIsteii 
at  ah  end,  lost  no  timq.in  dividing  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Bann 'into  seven  hew  coun- 
ties^ and  gave  them  English  names,*  appoiht-  ■ 
ing   them  slieriils,   coroners,  peace  offiqer^i^ 
and  all  such  appendages  of  British  law  ;  but 
still    the   queen    had   as   little   to   do  with 

•  Armagh,  J^fonagha^,  Tyrone,  Coloraiile,  (since  London- 
derry,) Donegal,  Fei^managh,  and  Cavan. ■    ^ 


w 


RET)   HAND   OF   UI.STER. 


^ 


Ulster  as  before,  and  thougli  Hugh  O'Neill 
appeared  to  agree  with  all  thes«  arrangements, 
being,  in  fact,  a  party  to  dietil,  he  solemnly 
swore  within  himsclf*tliat  these  things  should 
not  be  while  he  lived,  or  had  power  to  pro- 
vent  them.  '♦Elizabeth  Tudm,"  said  he 
within  himself,  "  may  imagine  the  spirit  of 
Ulster  extinct,  and  commission  her  agents  to 
send  hither  the  bloodhounds  of  their  law, 
but  she  shall  find  that  O'Neill  i»  still  mas- 
ter here,  and  that  the  children  oC  Heremon 
are  not  to  be  drilled,  and  tried,  an4  stripped 
of  their  inheritajice  at  her  pleasui* !  "  But 
still  he  smiled  and. bowed  when  Ms  opin- 
ion was  asked,  and  replied  to  Perrot— "  O, 
by  all  means  ;  why  should  not  this  Ulster  be 
civilized  as  well  as  the  sister  promrinces  1 
Pity  It  is  that  so  fair  a  country  hath  Been  so 
long  suffered  tp  remain  under  the  barbarous 
control  of  the  native  chiefs,"  ' 
•  But,  with  ail  this  show  of  loyalty,  a  great 
and  marked  change  was  slowly  taking  place 
in  O'Neill's  mind.  Daily  he  became  more 
convincied  that  England,  or  any  other  foreign 
rtde^  was  not  for  Ireland^  and^  his  eyes  once 


^ 


iiwrrt^jyifyiii&iMttjtf 


»2  REl)   HAND  OP  tJLSl*ER. 

Opened  to  the  fact,  he  went  on  and  on  to  ' 
new  conclusions.      "  Vainly,"  he  thought, 
"  shall  I  i|bor  to  keep  Ulster  clear  of  them, 
while  their  power  is  paramount  all  around 
ite  borders;  nay,  have  they  not  a  stronghold • 
within  the  heart  of  the  province,  while  Bag- 
nal  rules  it  here  in  Newry  ?  "     Then  came 
the  question,  ^How   is  all  this  evil  to  be 
remedied?"     And  from  the  depth  of  his 
own  ?oul  came  back  the>n8ji^er,  "  The  land, 
if  it  be  possible,  must^.c^^t  off  this  unhat- 
piral  incumbrance.     Neter  will  prosperity  Or 
^eace  smile  again-  on  Erin,  while  she  is  the 
dave  of  British  power."     But  how  was  this 
deliverance   to  be   effected  while  the  ch%fs^ 
and  people  were  broken  up  by  old  hered- 
itary quarrels  into  little  isolated  bands,  only 
g:ood   for   slaughtering   each   other  ?      The 
thing  was  morally  impossible,  and,  recognil- 
ing  in  all  its  f^ce  the  principle  that  "unions 
is  str^gth,"  .6*Neill  for  the  $rst  time  saw,  ^ 
with  a   bitterness  of  sorrow  never  known 
before,  that  he  had  fatally  erred  in  lending    - 
himself  to  tho  defeat  and  ruin  of  Desmond. 


■i  ' 


(( 


as,"  he  internally  exclaimed,  /'how  can 


il\i... 


BED  HAKD  OP  ULSTER. 


m 


at  "  unioni'- 


Ireland  hope  for  freedom  while  an  O'^Neill 
aids  the  common  foe  against  a  Geraldine—    , 
yea,    the  noblest  of  the   race  1     O,  that  I  ] 
could  but  recall  the  past,  and  how  different 
would  be  my  coursQ  !    Ay,  truly  would  J^ 
barter  my  fondest  hopes  of  earthly  happiness 
to  see  the  banners  of  Geraldine  again  float- 
ing from  the  towers  of  Adair  and  Itillmal-  - 
lock^^  then  it  were  a  glorious  sight  for 
Innirfail  to  see  the  red  hand  of  the  O'Neills 
waving  beside  them;   but,   alas,   alas,  the 
banner  of  Desmond  is  trampled  and  torn, 
and  that  lordly  line,  the  strength  of  Ireland 
and  the  church,  is  broken  and  crushed,  no 
more  to  rise!    Th.e   stately  head  of  Earl 
Gerald,  that  head  which  had  grown  grey  in 
struggling   for  the  nation's  rights,   is  now 
bleaching   on  a  pole— na  sjpectacle  for  the 
brutal  mob   of  London."      Smking   again^ 
into  bitter  reflection,  he  considered  over  what 
wp  best  to  be  doiie,  and  very  soon  "he  had 
formed  a  plan  whicK  if  fully  realized,  would 
have  indubitably  freed    Ireland  from   the 
thiill  of  the   stranger.     With  a  slow  but 
}ifisiired  step  the  young  Won  proceeded  to 


u 


■■■'.'.  I 

RED  HAND  OF   UtSTEB, 


1  il 

t." 


th^  chapel  adjoining  the  castle,  and  there, 
before  the  altar,  in  the  stillness  of  the  twi- 
light, he  solemnly  vowed  to  d^teall  the 
energies  of  his  soul  to  the  fbrn^j|i  of  such 
a  confederacy  amongst  the  i&|i^  t;hief»^ 
would  ensure  a  prospect  ofsl^cess  to  the 
national   cause.      As  he  knelt,  before   the 
small  Gothic  altar^  with  the  faint  light  of 
declining    day  casting    its    softening  tinge 
around,  nothing  could  be  more  noble  tha^ 
the  contour  and  expression-of  his  upturned 
face—his  long  hair  falling  back  from  the 
smooth,  passionless  forehead,  and  the  ^alm 

depth  of  his  hazel  eyes  lit  up  with  the  lofty 
purpose  which  then,  for  the  first  timertook 
root  m  his  soul.     Long  he  knelt  with  his 
arms   folded  on   his   breast,   and   his   head 
bowed  ^wn  in  meditation,   and  when  he 
ai-ose,  the  night  ha^  gathered  around,  but  he 
heeded  it  not,  for  his  thoughts  were  fixed  on 
the  greatness  of  the  task  before  him. 
^  Early  on  the  following  morning  he  set 
about  making  the^  first  trid  of:  his  project, 
aiid,  without  acqu^nting  any  one  of  his  intend 
tion,  he  proceeded  alone  to  Dungiven  Cattle, 


..■! 


'^ 


3 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTEB. 


M 


an4,  not  finding  the  O'Cahan  there,  he  rode     \ 
along  the  banks  of  the  Bioe  to  Liraavady,        ^ 
another   stronghold   of  that   powerful  sept, 
and,  once  face  to  face  with  the  chieftain  of 
Arachty,  he  not  only  obtained  his  forgive- 
ness, but  enlisted  all  his  sympathy  on  the 
side  of  nationality.     Not  that  he  succeeded 
without    difficulty,   for    in  reality    he   was 
obliged  to  put  in  requisition  all  his  power  of 
persuasion.     It  was  not  strange  that  O'Cahan 
regarded  his  first  advances  with  suspicidn, 
and    that    he    was   slow  to    entertain  any 
schemes  for  Irish  independence,  coming  from 
one  who  so  lately  appeared  in  the  guise  of  a 
British   officer,   harrying  and  hunting    his 
countrymen  on  their  own  soil.     But  when 
O'Neill   candidly  acknowledged  his   error, 
and,described  the  chain  of  reasoning  which 
iiad  brought  him  to   see  its  full   extent— 
when  he  spoke  with  resistless  eloquence  of 
the  hopes  that  might  reasonably  be  enter- 
tailed  if.  the  native  chiefs  would  only  unite 
their  strength,  then  O'Gahan,  who  was  of  all 
men  the  most  unsuspicious,  began  first  to 
believe  that  the  baron  of  Dungiven  was. 


26 


RED  HAND  OF  UL8TEB. 


'":\ 


after  all,  worthy  of  trust,  and,  liis  prejudices 
thus  overcome,  there  was  of  course  no  diffi- 
culty in  bringing  him  to  adopt  the  patriotic 

\  hopes   and   views   of  O'Neill,  /Tti|3  point 
once  gained,  the  latter  made  a  .still/  bolder 
step,  and  journeyed  on,  still  alone^  through 
the  rocky  region  between  Limavady  and  the 
Castle   of    Dunluce.      Even   O'Cahan   had 
attempted  to  persuade  him  from  venturing 
atone  into  the  Wild  fortalice  of  the  McBon- 
nell,  and  finally  proposed  to  bear  him  com- 
pany;  but  to  this  O'Neill  would  not  conient, 
well   knowing   that   a   show   of  confidence 
would  be  of  all  things  the  most  likely  to 
smooth   down    the   fierce   chieftain   of  the 
Glynns.     Alone  then  he  set  out,  (leaving  his 
horse  at  a  cabin  within  a  mile  or  two  of 
Dunluce,)   and  alone   he   stood  before   the 
heavy  portcullis  of  the  castle.     Seizing  the 
horn  which  hung  there>  he  blew  a  loud,  clear 
blast,  and  ere  yet  its  echoes  had  died  away, 
a  deep  voice  spoke  fi:9m  behind,  demanding 

^is  name  and  the  purpose  for  which  he  sought 
admission.  Turning  quickly,  O'Neill  beheld 
the  McDonnell  himself,  whose  features  were 


■iiiiVi  r—Tii 


iW)  HAKB  OF  TJLBTER. 


rt 


not  unfamijiar  to  ius  eye.     Alexander,  or,  fts 
he  was  generally  called,  Sorley  Buidlie,  (or 
the  yellow-haired,)  McDonnell,  was  a  man  of 
large  and  strong  frame,  with  a  face  on  which 
stormy  passion  had  impressed  its  fierce  char- 
acters; and  yet  the  features,  if  their  expres- 
sion were  less  fierce,   mighty  be  considered 
handsome,  for,  though  large,  their  outline 
was  noble  and  commanding,  and  the  whole 
singularly  regular.     But  then  the  dark  eye 
had  an  almost  painful  intensity  in  its  glaring 
light,  and  gleamed  out  wildly  from  under  a 
pair;  of  shaggy  eyebrows  of  the  saine  light 
color  from  which  he  derived  his  surname. 
The  chieftain  was  attired  in  ^  hunting  cos- 
tume, and  from  his  close  cap  floated  a  "small 
heron's  plume,  doubtless  to  denote  his  Scot- 
tish  descent,— that  being   the   well-known 
appendage  of  the  Scottish  chiefs,  whether  of 
the  mainland  or  the  isles.     No  sooner  did 
his  eye  fall   on    the  well-known    face   of 
0*Neill,  than,  even  before  the  latter  had  time 
to  speak,  an  angry   scowl  gathered  on  his 
brow.     His  hand  involuntarily,  as  it  were, 
ires  wereJ     J    gQ^igiit  tije  skeaa  which  hung  in  a  ^eath 


•f 


*▼  «S'-5]*!p*-'    r  •■ 


^8 


HED  HAND  OP  TJLSTEIl. 


'^,  •^ 


Y^^ 


from  his  leathern  girdle,  as  "he  Treated,  in 
higher  and  more  excited  tone,-*-"  I   hav< 
asked  a  question— answer  it  quickly^-^what. 
dost  thou  here  ?  "     He  spoke  in  Irish,  and^ 
O'Neill  replied  in  the  same  language. 

"I  have  come  to  make  a  friendly  alliance 
with  the  McDonnell,  and  to  pledge  him  to 
pur  friture  friendship,  in  that  rich  and  genial 
usquehaugh    of    which  1 ;  have    heard    so 

much."  X 

"Man !  thou  dost  but  mock  me  !  "cried 
McDonnell,  with  rising  fury,  "  a^rid  I  warn 
thee  to  practice  no  jokes  on  Alexander_^ 
McDonnell,  or  thou  mayest  fare,  and  that 
instantly,  as  did  thy  kinsman  Shane.  It 
behooves  an  O'Neill  to  keep  a  civil  tougue 
while  witlnn  arm's  length  of  a  McDonnell." 
"And  yet,"  returned  O'Neill,  no  whit 
disconcerted,  "  and  yet  I  have  come  hither 
withoTit  even  a  moment's  fear  ;  here  are  now 
no  Pierces  to  excite  a  McDonnell  to  dis-, 
honor  or  tareachery.  *     I  have  come,  then, 

,*■■•■       .■.'■"'"'.  "■".'■■.'■'        ..  .  * 

*  The  tjreftoheroos  murdor  of  Shane  O'Neill,  by  the  McDon- 
nells,  waa  said  to  httve  beeu  m8tigated  by  an  Knglfahman 


named  Piorpe. 


;^v/.-: 


BED  HAND   OP   ULSTER* 


29 


iJone  to  visit  thee^  and  my  purpose  is  as  I 
have  stated  it/* 

"  Nay,"  said  the  chieftain,  in  a  somewhat 
calmer  tone,  "  thou  wilt  not  make  me  believe 
that  thou  art  without  escort  or  attendants. 
This  ii^but  a  trick  of  thine  English  cunning, 
and  it  will  not  go  down  with  me.  Eve 
now  thy  crew  may  be  advancing  behii/d 
these  very  rocks." 

"Now,  by  the  great  St.  Columba! "  said 
O'Neill,  with  some  warmth,  "  but  this  is 
somewhat  hard— and  yet  I  blame  thee  not 
when  I  come  to  remember.-^What  proof 
can  I  give  that  what  I  say  is  true?" 

"  Ah' thou  art  sincere,"  exclaimed  Alex- 
ander again,  "thou  wilt  enter  these  gates 
alone  with  me,  and  suffer  that  they  be 
secured  behind  thee.  Then  will  I  know 
that  thou  hast  no  base  design." 

"Opeuy  then,  in  God*s  name,"  replied 
O'Neill  quickly,  "no  pause  have  I  to  fear-^ 
and  if  I  had  before  entei-tained  any  doubt  of 
thine  honor,  would  I,  thinkest  thou,  have 
come  hitfeef  to  seek  admission  within  these 


Strong  walls?" 


^^"^^^'^  0\ 


IK' 


% 


■  fj 


V 


30 


RED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


.-!■• 


Theretipon  the  Scot  blew  a  peculiar  blast 
on  the  horn,  and  instantly  the  huge  port- 
cullis was  raised,  giving  to  -view  the  gloomy 
front  of  the  castle,  the  narrow  ledge  of  rock 
which  connected  it  with  the  mainland,  and 
the  interior  of  the  court-yard*  Dn  either 
hand  was  seen  boiling  below  amongst  the 
rocks  the  foaming  surge  of  the  ocean. 
McDonnell  motioned  in  silence  for  O'Neill  to 
go  first,  which  he  did  with"  a  step  as  firm  as 
though  he  trod  his  own  hall-floor.  When 
he  reached  the  opposite  side,  he  turned  and 
awaited  McDonnell,  saying  with  a  smile  as 
-he  approached,— 

*'Thou  hast  meet  caii^e  tq  be  proud  of 
this  fortress,  McDonnell— the  lord  of  Dun- 
luce  is  a  lofty  title.'* 

"Not  so  lofty  surely  as  that  of  baron  of 
Diingannon,"  returned  tne  other  with  •aft 
ironical  grin.  **  The  stamp  of  Elizabeth's 
favor  is  not  on  title  of  mine.;  how,  therefore, 
could  it  be  of  honor  ?^'  "And  he  t  looked 
hard  at  O'Neill,  but  the  latter  only  laughed. 

/*It  is  all  fair,  Alexander— shoot  away,  as 
thou  wilt,  at  my  English  honors,  so  thoiT 


■in  al.!    '..It  .1 


,'^'-^"^' 


BBD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


31 


sparest  the  name  of  which  I  am  proud.  Call 
me  O'NeiU— Aodh  O'Neill^while  I  remain 
here,  for  we  have  matters  to  treat  of,  which 
would  ill  come  from  a  Saxon  lord.  One 
day  thoti  mayest  perchance  have  a  hand  in 
obtaining  for  me  that  title,  which  alone  an 
O'Neill  can  covet,"  / 

Astonished  by  this  language, '  McDonnell 
silently  led  the  way  to  thjb  hall,  and  when 
'  there,  he  reached  out  his  |iand  to  O'Neill— - 
"  Whatsoever  may  be  /thy  purpose,"  he 
cried,  "I  can  no  longer  suspect  thee  of 
treachery,  for  one  who /felt  hiijfiself  guilty 
would  not  thus  thrust  hifnselfi^'  the  way  of 
speedy  revenge.  Without  knowing  thy 
reed  object  in  this  visit,  I  do  bid  thee  wel- 
come, freely  confessing  that  thy  air  and 
bearing,  still  njore  than  thy  words,  have 
conquered  mine  enmity." 

Thus  did  O'Neill  work  his  way  into  the 

good  graces  of  all  whom  he  sought  to  win 

over.     Few  men  of  his  day  had  s6  deep  a 

[knoMedge  of  human  nature,  and  none  could 

^  excel  him  iiithe  art  of  making  that  ImprftR- 

sion  which  suited  his  purpose.     During  a 


'A 


-—r 


'■A 


,^^. 


>;r- 


\ 


BD   RAND   OF   ULSTER. 


S2 


long  converBation  yiwi  McDonnell,  ho 
revealed  as  much  of  l^'iplans  as  he  deemed 
necessary  —  dwelling  -|)nrticularly  on  the 
advantages  of  union  amongst  the  chiefs  of 
Ireland,  and  enticing  the  Scot  to  join  the 
confederacy,  by  a  promise  of  lending  ^im,  at 
any  time,  sotJpof  his  best  troops.  "  For," 
said  he,  *' the  work  of  conciliation  and  band- 
ing together  the  chieftains  must  necessarily 
spread  itself  over  a  long  time,  and  while  it  is 
in  progress,  we  may  have  heed  of  each  other*s 
assistance— if  so,  thou  mayest  reckon  Aodh 
O'Neill  as  thy  sura  friend."  This  voluntary 
promise  was  directly  addressed  to  McDon- 
nell's darling  passion,  and  did  much,  as 
O'Neill  knew  it  would,  tp  win  his  cordial 
consent.  Above  all  things,  he  took  care  to 
warn  his  new  friend,  that  policy  required  him 
to  keep  still  in  favor  with  Elizabeth,  at  least, 
until  such  times  as  he  was  i|trong  enough 
to  make  his  works  manifest  to  the  world. 
"  And  be  not  surprised,"  he  went  on  with 
a  smile^  "if,  at  my  next  visit  to  London,  I 
come  back  with   a  fresh   load  of  English 


honors,"     McDonnell   laughed^    "If  so," 


C    ^SW^    "titTj         f-«l=*    '•:?f^*^"T^  H'^ 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


ds 


he  said,  "  I  would  advise  thee  to  keep  clear 
of  my  people,  for  no  symptoms  of  good  will 
on  the  part  of  their  chief  can  make  them 
look  kindly  on  a  Saxon  name-bearer.     Even 
now  they  could  find  in  their  hearts  to^^d 
the   English   baron   and    general    headlong 
into  the  chasm  below,   but  an*  thou  goest 
any  higher  in  rank,  they  could  not  resist  the 
temptation,  having  an  idea  that  these  things      ' 
would    not    be    given    without     continued     ' 
services  from  theet--so  beware,  I  tell  thee.'* 
The  evening  was  now  drawing  on,  and 
after  draining  a  plentiful  draught  of  the  far-   . 
famed  usquebaugh  of  Scotland,  O'Neill  set 
out  on  his  returh  to  O'Cahan's  Castle,  hav- 
ing declined  the  pressing  invitation  of  Mc- 
Donnell to  stay  over  night.     The  chieftain 
1  accompanied   him  some  miles  pn  his  way, 
[and  (Turing  the  ride  O'Neill  continued  to    ■ 
liijgratiate  himself  still  farther  with  the  Jerce 
but  generous  McDonnell.     When  at  length 
[they  parted/ on  a  wooden  bridge  thrown  over    X 
la  mountain  stream,  he  seized  O'Neill's  hand, 
and,  while  he  pressed  it  warmly  between      - 
both  his  own,  he  cried,  "By  StColumb  of 


,-,■•1,  • 


r   '} 

V. 


r^ 


34 


RED   HAND    OP    ULSTER. 


Tonal  ami  thou  heldest  the  wand  of  power 
in  Tyr-owcn,  Sorley  Jkidhc  McDonnell 
.would  never  raise  a  lance  against  thee,  nor 
refuse  thy  tribute.  I  tell  thee  what,  Hugh  ! 
we  must  send  this  poor  old  woman,  who  sits 
in  the  O'Xcill  chair,  to  8pi,n  the  distaff  at 
Strabane  ;  it  is  shame  for  the  clans  of  Ulster 
to  own  so  pitiful  a  lord,  and  as  I  am  a  true  man 
we  will  have  thee  chaired  at  Tulloghoge." 
A  slight  flush  mounted  to  CNeill's  clear 
cheek,  he  smiled,  and  his  smjle  was  one  of 
triumph,  but  he  only  said :  **  For  shame, 
Alexander !  what  would  Tirlogh  say  to  this  ? " 
."  Little  care  I  what  he  would  say," 
returned  the  chief, '  haughtily  —  "and  mind 
my  words,  that  another  summer's  sun  shall 
not  shine  his  last  on  these  grey  locks  ere  the 
Kinel-Eoghan  willtJake  unto  itself  its  fitting 
ruler.  Farewell!"  Turning  his  horse's 
head  with  a  jerk  of  the  rein,  he  rode  off  at 
a  round  pace,  leaying  O'Neill  to  ponder  on 
his  partihg  words,  which  he  did  even  in 
despite  of  his  wilL     The  tall  shadows  of  the 


cliffs  flung.,  their  length  across  the  uneven 
pathway,  as  the  baron  journeyed  on^  aiid  the 


1  Ifl 

- 1 

1 

.ilS 

>^ 

hIh 

tl 

'.         .     . 

:^^r:;.  . 

■  ■    ■■■■..         ■    .        '    • 

_   ■:         ' 

"<':' 

-       -.  *■' 

•^•kH 

5fc 


i»  ■ 


\s 


RED  HAND  OF   UI^BTRB, 


^ 


•ound  of  distant  lowing  gave  indication  that 
the  kine  were  homjr  driven  from  their  pas- 
tures to  thii  neighborhood  of  feiwus  and  caj- 
ties,  to  be  delivered  of  their  frap^raiit  burthenl 
Flocks  of  sheep  Merc   here  and  there  sceii 
whitenihg  the  green  pasture-land,  and  far  in. 
the  distance  might  be  traced  the  windings  of 
the  silvery  Hoe  ;   when  descending  from  the 
hilly    ground,    northward,    it    runs    along 
through  the  pleasant  holmes'  and  meadow^- 
laiids  qf  what  was  then  Arachty  O'Cahan, 
no\i(  the  coloni<fe4'  county  of  Londonder^r. 
.It  was  almost  dark  when  the  baron  alighted 
atO%han'8  door,  and  received  th«  fervent 
gratu|ation  of  the  chieftain  on  fiis  safe  and 
speedy  return,  v 


/.v;,.-^ 


-  .1-,;  :;!^  .■.■;:■■  •     ■■CHAPTER   II.     ;■.■•■: 

J-  »*  Talk  of  witches  aod  foiriM,  fhat  ride  on  the  wind,         :^ 
^„     __  And  of  ghosts,  till  they  'ro  all  in  amaw)."— Oto  BauaBvT  "' 

A  SHORT  time  before  the  evenls  I 'have 
I  been  relating,  4)'Neill  had  rebuilt  his  house; 
I  at  Dungannon,  at  the  queen's  suggestiot,and 


HHr 


■f        ■      < 


1 


f  ; 


■■  & 


•■-'■ 
^ 


36 


lA^ 


RED   nmi)   OF   ULSTER. 


had  imported  a  large  qtiantity  of  lead,  for  the 
purpose   of    roofing   it.       He   had   latterly 
changed  his  mind  as  to  the  destination  of  the 
leadv  and  covered  the  house  with  some  other 
material.      Now,  in  the  thickest  part  of  a 
forest,  which  lay  at  no  great  distance,  the 
baron  had  discovered  the  existence  of  a  spa- 
cious cave,  whose  mouth  was  impervious  to 
merely  casual  observation,  because  of  a  huge 
furze,  by  which  it  was/entirely  concealed. 
To  this .  cavern,  sooii  aft^r  hi|,  visit  to  the 
north,  he  caused^  an  imm^nsd  cauldron,   or  * 
furnace,  to  be  conveyed,  and,  having  procured 
a  nuthber  of  bullet-moulds,  he  selecfted  a  fow 
of  his' trustiest  followers,  including  his  foster- 
brother,  Phelim  O'Neill,  and  having  himself 
given  them  the  necessary  instructions,  he  set 
them  to  worlc,  converting  the  lead  into  good 
substantial  bulletSi  Amongst  the  other  injunc- 
tions given  to  the  workmen,  O'Neill  charged 
them,  above  all,  to  keep  their  employment 
secret  from  all.     "  For,"  said  he,  *'  ye  are  all 
aware  of  the  vicinity  of  Newry,  where  Bag* 
nal  is  ever  on  the  watch  to  find  cause  of  cbih- 
plaint  against  me.     Information  of  this  work 


M 
*1 


.":'7 


\" 


KED 


nJbrD 


OF   ULSTEK. 


S7 


woulcl  be  worth  a  mine  of  gold  io  Kim^ee 
then-  that  the  very  birds  of  the  air  discover 
not*  the  secret.  I  am  now  going  to  England 
for  a  week  or  two,  but  I  leave  the  matter  in 
your  hands. "  Then,  as .  a  stidden  f  thought 
struck  him,  he  hastily  added,  *^  Not,'  even  to 
your 'lady  must  this  be  known! "      . 

"Oh,  then,  don't  be  afraid,  my  lord!** 
cried  Teague  O'Hagan,  one  of  the  trusted 
few,  "sure  we  know  what  the  ancient  prov- 
erb says,  that  a  wise  head  makes  a  close 
'  mqutjiy  an \  with  God's  help,  we  '11  keep  pur  " 
lips  glued  together  when  we're  out  of  this, 
for  fear  a  word  would  cortie  .out  in  spite  of 
,usi"       ,■-:■■--[:■■■/■..:::'/:::.■-:-  I;;-  ■■,--- 

"  Oh ! !  no  need  of  that,  Teague,"  ,said  the 
baron,  laughing,  "only  be. careful  at  your 
going  out  and  coming  in,  and  take  care  to 
drop  no  hint  of  our  secret  to  any  one/* 

All  the  four  then  joined  in  assuring  him 
that  he  had  no  cause  for  fear,  and  the  baron, 
having  seen  them  ikidy  at  work,  withdrew. 
Being  desirou^,  before  he  set  out  for  London, ' 
to  sound  the  chieftain  of  Tjrfionndl,  he  tdok 
his  wife  with  him  on  a  visit  to  her  father. 


in 


^  '^ 


88 


BED    HAND   OF  ULSTER. 


>«i  ■ 


■t  't 


■     ! 


Unfortiinatelv,  the  character  of  the  rulinir 
chief  afforded  little  hope,  for  he  was  pre- 
cisely such  another  as  old  Tirlogh  of  Tyr- 
owen,  but  still  it  was  worth  making  the  trial, 
for  his  joining  the  cause  would  be  in  itself  a 
rational-  ground  for  hope,  his  power  being 
paramount  oyer  many. of  the  most  warlike 
tribes  of  Ulster.  So  the  baron  and  baroness 
set  out  for  Donegal  with  a  numerous  retinue. 
They  were  cordially  received,  and  a  week 
passed  pleasantly  away,  for  the  young  brothers 
of  Judith  were  noble  and  gallant  boys,'  and 
the  red  deer  were  ple'nty  in  the  forests  of 
TyrconnelL  But,  alas,  after  many  conversa- 
lions  with  Manus,  O'Neill  gave  up  his  hopes  ■ 
with  a  heavy  sigh,  for,  though  he  ventured 
not  to  make  any  definite  proposal,  yet  he 
Gould  not  but  see  that  the  slightest  allusion 
to  a  struggle  with  the  English  was  sufficient 
to  make  O'DQnneirs  heart  sink,  and , his  color 
come  and  go  like  a  very  girl.  "He  is  the 
^veritable  father  of  my  worthy  helpmate," 
said  O'Neill  to  himself,  "  and,  as  such,  cannot 
be  roused  to  either  feeling  or  energy." 
There  was  then  no  hope  in  Tyrconnell,  for 


*VL- 


h  '^ 


KED   HAND   OF   ULSTER, 


89 


le  rulintr 
was  pre- 

of  Tvr- 
the  trial, 
1  itself  a 
er  being 

warlike 

baroness 

3  retinue. 

a  week 
•brothers 
)oys/  and 
arests  of 
ionversa- 
lis  hopes- 
ventured 
L,  yet  be 

allusion 
sufficient 
his  color 
[e  is  the 
Ipmate,*' 
h,  cannot 
energy." 


m 


the  sons  of  the  chief  were  little  more  than 
children;  Hugh,  the  eldest,  being  barely 
turned  of  fourteen.  So  with  a  heavy  heart 
the  baron  turned  his  back  again  on  Donegal 
Castle,  internally  cursing  the  pusillanimity^ 
of  its  chief,  so  little  worthy  of  that  proud 

title.  ~ 

But,  leaving  O* Neill  and  his  phlegiJcmtio 
spouse  on  ^their  homeward  journey,  let  us 
l-eturn  to  see  how  it  fared  with  the  bullet- 
makers  during  their  lord's  absence.     As  the 
nigh£  was  the   time   when   they  had   least 
chance  of  being  disturbed,  they  worked  but 
little  during  the  day,  and  when  the  evening 
was  closing  in,  they  regularly  repaired  one 
by  one  to  their  secret  forge  in  the  forest. 
Then  it  was,  that,  by  the  light  of  bog-pine 
torches,   they  went^^  merrily   on   with   their 
work,  having  their  store  of  metal  in   the 
farther  end  of  the  cavern,  where,  too,  they 
stowed  away  the  bullets  as  they  grev^  cold, 
Nigjit  after  night  they  whiled  away  the  time 
with^ong  and  story,  taking  care  to  roll  up 
to  the  moutfh  of  the  cave  a  stone  which  com- 
pletely  closed  it  up,   so  that  even  sound 


mell,  for 


-f 


40 


R?l)   HAND   OF   ULSTER.      . 


could  not  escape  ifany  were  abroad  to  hear 
it. .  As  Teague  and  Phelim  had  both 
ibllo^d  their  chief  through  his  campaigns 
in  the  south,  they  had:  many  a  wondrous  tale 
to  tell  of  the  Geraldine  country,  and  that 
'long  war  in  which  they  had  borne  a  part, 
most  repugnant  to  their  inclinations,  for  it 
required  all  their  affbcdon  for  O'Neill  to 
make  the  clansmen  of  Tyi-oWen  range 
themselves  under  the  English  banners.  / 

"  Well,  God  sees  it  Was  little  honor  for 
an  CKeHl  to  help  up  the  English  red-coats, ; 
and  they  butchering  and   slaughtering  the 
heartVblopd  of  true  Irishmen  I^I/d  go  as 
.  iar  as  any  man  for  one  of  the  nam^,  but  then 
it  was  agaifist  nature  to  do  that,^h'  I 'don't 
know  that  I'd  do  it  even  for  him— ay/if  he- 
was^he  O^eilliiimself  l'"  *     This  wis  said  " 
%  Brian  O^agan,  who,  though  a  brother 

♦JtiwiU  bo  romembertd  thai  tbcre^as  iio  broken  English 
spokeiPaUfaatday, as  tlielVi8h/43xcef)t  whW Bpeak^^^ 
TTtbknew  not  tMr  language,  had  lay  too  great  a  hatred  of 

the  Saxon  to  use  hia  tongue,  oren  if  they  oouid  speak  it.  As 
they  spoke  their  o*rn  Mnguage  with  tolerable  propriety, 
there  will  be  found  hero,,  eyen  in  the  mouths  of  Q*NeiU*3 


,!*•• 


'.■  n 


followers,  npne  of  what  are  caUed  Irishifims.   * 


/  •. 


I-,  hI 


BED   HAND   OF  ULSTER. 


41 


1-^. 


II 


of  Teague,  had  "^ever  seen  service  of  -any 

kind..-  '■■  .  ■'. "  /■  :  '  .■•.■■:/ 

<a  tell  thee,  Brian,"  cried  PheliYia  O'Neill, 

with  some  indignation,  "  I  tell  thee,  that  he 
did  it  against  the  grain/ jjist  to  keep  the 
Rassenach  ijueen  in  the  dark;  and  another 
thing,  Brian'O'Hagan,  what  if  he  did  as 
much  good  there  as  harm  ?  "  - 

"^,1  'll.be  sworn  he  did,"  said  Teag'ue^ 
speaking  fi'om  his  statioil  near  the  furjiace, 
«  and,  glory  be  'to  God,'  some  of  ourselves 
had  a.  chance  of  doing  a  small  share  of  good 
as   well   as   Aodh,   God  bless;  him.      Eh, 
Phelim,  had  we  not?" 
,.  "More  than  them  that  staid  at  home/' 
returned  Phejim,  e^ultingly,  while  his  hour 
est^iace    glowed    with    the    remembrance. 
J'  Many  a  good  turn  we  did  the  poor  fellows* 
I  under-hand,  though   above-board  we    were 
;  against  them,  an'd  I  'm  Sure  the  baron  earned 
more  blessings  than  I  could  tell  in  a  month, 
from  the  priests  and  bishops  that  he  helped 
away/  when  th|j    Sa^stim    deargs  were   all 
round  them>  raging  ~  like  wild  "beasts.     Qch, 
theni  Teague  dear,  wasn't   that    the  >  great 


-^  *  *  ,- 


^  !/;■  ■  #.■ 

■■ ,_  ■  '^ ■ 

42 


—unr- 


»?BD  HXnp  of   ulster. 


.   rejoicing  for,  US  dll  when  we  got  the  blood- 

.hounds  off  the  scent  of  the  poor  old  friar?" 

•'Ay;  him  that  stole  back  into  the  abbey 

^     and  it  on  fire  to. bring  away  the  crucifix  that 

they  forgot  when  they  were  forced  to  leave 

the  i^lace.     Ay,  Phelim,  we  were '  the ,  lights 

:.    est-hearted  fellows  irwn  sea  to  sea  after  we 

got  l^im  safe  off!  '*      J 

"  Arrah,  what  is  '  it ^  all  -  about,  boys  ?  '* 
demanded  ^rian  and  his  uutravejled  comrade 
in  a  breath,  "sure  ye  might  tell  us  the 
whole  story  if  ye  had  a  niind  t6i  be  civil."  \ 

"  Why,  it  is  n't  a  long  one,  after  all,"  said 
Teague.*    Wiping  the  perspiration  from  his 
heated  bro^,   he  resigned  his  pkce  at  tihe 
eauidron  to  Phelim,  aiid  threw  himself  at  full . 
length  on  a  ledge  of  the  rock  which  formed 
a  sort  of  natural  bench  al6ng  xme  side  of  the 
ckvern.     «A   party   of  Ormond's    troopers 
had  set  fire  to  a  ^ne  "abbey,,  heathens  as  they 
werey  ^nd    sure  Ithey  turned  put  the  poor 
■  monks  without  %ing  them .  take  oiie  thing 
or^Mothelr  with  them-Jonlyon^.  of  them    - 
inanaged;to^lit>into;th^  chapely  pobr  mairl   y 
ani^arj^  away  the 'biassed  sacrament,  .chal-  / 


1^  -^.^ 


kU 


"V- 


r- 


n-r 


■Nn 


^ 


^ 

■•■^r 


HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


48 


ice  and' all,  arid  a  miracle  it  was  that  he 
escaped  out  into  the  wo6ds  with  it,  and  the 
cursed  red-coats  on  the  watch  at  everj^  door,    v 
Well!  it  was  afterwards  we  heard  this,  for^ 
the  baron  had  b|en  all  J*3^:^ay  stationed 
with   his   people   at   a  ford   wh«re   it   was 
expected  some  of  the  Geraldines   were  to 
attempt  crossing,  and  when  we  were  released 
ahd  came  up'with  the  -Samm  deargs;  sUre    * 
enough  we   found  them  shouting  and  yelK 
ing  round  the  abbey,  and  ye  may  be  s-ure  it 
went'to  our  hearts  when  we  saw  the  fine  old 

ancient  huilding  in  flames.     Well,  sure  the 
haron  himself  was  just  as  ^much  grieved  as 
any  of  us,  for  he  got  as  white  as  al  sheet  and 
then  red  again,  and  any  one  could  see  that 
he  could  hardly  keep  in  his  anger,  but  what 
could  he  do?  so  he  just  turned  his  back  on 
the  pitiable  sight   and  said  not  a  word     1  ^ 
suppose  the  poor  monjcs  .were  on  the  watch 
in  the  neighboring  forest,  for  the  Hire  was 
Ver^^neai^akin^  into  the  cha^l,  when  what 
shoiildcliee  (and  fifty  <)f  but  people  as-well 
at^f)  hut  a^small  door  open  at  one  feide  ofitfiie 
altar— ve  see  ihb  outside  doprsi  l^^ere  all  wide 


■  •.  ft'*'  ■ 


\ 


^. 


-i 


' 


'(■•■■/ 


"D 


% 


.'•■<,■ 


■.% 


u 


'i\ 


RED   HAND   OF   UtiSTER. 


,^^  open,  and  we  happened  to  be  over  against' 
the  ehapel.     Then  a  hand  and  arm  came  out 
and   reached   to  a  -black   crucifix  that  was 
hanging  over  the-^altan     Sure  enough  we  all 
.  began  to  tremble,  for  we  knew  it  must  be 
one  of  the  monks  that  was  trying  to  get  the 
eross,  and  we  were  in  hopes  that  the^a^^wm 
:^e«r^*   didn't   see    the    thing   at   all',    but, 
ochone!  before  ye  could  say  *God  bless  us!' 
there  was^  a   shout   of  '  Catch   him-^^ch 
himi  ?  *To  the  flame^  with  himself  and  his 
idol!  'was  echoed  frdm  others,  and  a^  good 
as    twenty    of    the    bloodthirsty  Sassenachs^ 
made  ^  rush  to  the  open  .  door,  though'  the 
fire  was  just  breaJcing  into  the  c^liapel  at  the 
time    froni    anothei'    direction.  rXhe    poor 
inonk,  when  he  heard  the  shojif^  slapped,  to 
the  door,  (but/not  till  h^  had  made  sure  of 
the  crucifix,)  and  he  must 'have  go(  it  barred 
too,  for  when  the  dtevils  tried  to  push  it  ii;,  - 
.faith,  ;they  foi|nd  a  mistake,  for  they  xjrusheii  ' 
and  crushed,   but  it  >ti!^   no  use.     Well! 
they  were  fairly  at  -a  loss  what  to  do,   and 

sure  ourselves  set  up  a  laugh  at  them,  and 

that  made  them  mad  altogether,  for  oflf  they 


'■H 


\ 

^ 


i. 

'A' 


•Si.* 


BEP  HAND  bF  ULSTIiR. 


45 


ran,  and  snatchied  up  rfiree'  or  ^ur  burning 
pieces  o£  wpod,  and  pile^  them  up  against 
the  door.     And  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
y?d  say,  tfi^e  was  a  great  i^ke,  and  then 
the  dopr  began  to  crackle,  and^at  last  it  broke 
out  into  a  blaze  right  up  the  middle.     Well ! 
when  ^6  saw  this,,  our. laughing   ^as  soon 
over,/and  we  all  turned  to  ask  leave  from 
the^aron  to  save  the  poor  monk,  but  behold 
,  y^  le  was  n't  to  be  seen,  and.we  were  just 
'on  the  step  t6  gd  after  the  Sassenachs,  when 
there  came"  the  sound!  of  a  horn  from  the 
back  of  the.  wood,  an^  then  aloud  cry  of 
^The  Geraldine  tO;  the  rescue! '---och  I  while 
ye'd  clap  your  hands  /Chere  was  n't  a  red-cokt 
about  the  abbey  tut  what  rushed  out— them 
^at  were  after  the  monk  amongst  the  lest-^ 
the  Saxon  captain  cried  out  to  the  men^  to 
fall  into  their  places,  and  sure  we  Were  doing 
1^6  same  without  saying  anything  abo^^ 
Hugh's  belAg*  away,  but  before  we  were^ll 
in  our  ranks,  didn't  we  see  him  walking 
over  to   the   English  officer,  jiist  as   if  he 
hadn't  been  off  the  ground  at  all?     Phelim 
and  myself  were  close  together,   and   we 


rf>- 


.^i' 


46 


ReS^hand  of  ulster. 


ur^^"^'   »^ -^"6   another,   but   said   nothing. 
We  had  our  own  notions,  for  all  that;  and 
we  weren'X  much  surprised,  when  after  cool- 
ing  our  heels   for  an  hour  at  least,  the  devil 
.a  soul  troubled  us.     Then  for  fear  of  an 
-  ambush  w^  had  to  wait  there  till  clear  day- 
light   in   the   morning,,  when  we  marched 
away  to  join  the  maih  body  under  Ormond, 
but  the  face  of  an  Irish  enemy,  (as  the  Sas- 
senachs  called  them,),  was  n't  to  be  seen."       " 
/^ -'Well!  but  who  was   it   that  gave   the 
false   alarm?"    cried   Brian,  who,  with  his 
tJompanioh,  Art,  had  listened  in  open-mouthed 
attentibn— ." did  ya  ever  find  that  o|t?" 

"Arrah,"  said  TeagUe,  somewhat  con- 
temptuously,  "don't  ye  see  as  plaiti  as  my 
hand  that  it  was  t^e  baron  himsdf;  God's 
blessing  light  on  him?  We  iievef  put  tlie 
question  to  him,  but  eveiyon'e  of  us  l^new 
it  as  well  as  co^d  be,  and  Ure  it  would 
make  you  laugh  till  your  sid^acried  ^ain, 
^  W  him  tibndoling  with  fthe  feassenach ' 
captain,  about  the  trick  that  h^d  b^en  played 
us.     And  the  best  of  it  all  i^as 


blamed  it  on  the  monks.  Who  Ld 


that  they, 
they  said. 


V 


BED   IIAKD   or   t«>STER. 


47 


an  tmclerground  passage  from  the  back  of 
the  wood  into  the  abbey.  But  that  wasn't 
the  first,  nor  the  last  time  that  Bitron  Hugh 
saved  priests  from  death.  Ay,  and  inany 
a  A)ble  lady  Jie  contrived  to  steal  «way  from 
the  very  clutches  almost' of  the  soldiers." 

"But,  Teague,"  said  Art,  '*^^i8  it  true  tjiat 
the  spirits  of  the  mijirdered  priests  are  «till 
seen  by  night  in  the  old  walls  of  their 
chttrches ?-r-8ure  we  heard  here  that  somerof 
yourselves  saw  something  that  wa:y,  up-in 
Munster,  there  I "       ./       ;  * 

*'  Well,  sure  enough,"  said  Teague,  and 
he  laughed  aloud,  as  did  Pvhelim,  too,  *^8ure 
enough  we  did  see  a  priest  one  nigl|(t  sayilil 
mass  in  a  tuihed  «hu<:ch;  ay,  and  we  all-  of 
us  waited  till  we  heard  the  mass,  too,  fbi^ 
God  help  us^  it  wasn't  often  we  had  the 
chance,  ^^^d  glad  enough^  we  ^ere,  and 
the  baron  himself  went  and  kneerd  beside 
[the  broken  altar,  .anc^  when  mass  was  over, 
le  had  a  long  tal|^  with  the  priest."     '^  ,  "^ 

Here  both  Bliett  and  Art  crossed  them- 
jelve^  devoutly,  while  an  •exclamation,  of 
Lorrbr^urst  from  the  lips  of  each^  and  tbeir 


,»';••' 


W^|R»  F  fJ.^  -T^-  ?^ 


48 


RBI)  HAND   OF  UL8TBB. 


very  teeth  chattered  with  the  cold  chill  of 
liortal  terror,  **  The  Lojrd^  save  us,  and  iy  a 
ghost  all  the  time  ? "  .  / 

"No  more  a  ghost  than  yourself,  BriAn," 
^ried  Teague,  while  Phelim  and  he  laughed 
till  the  tears  ran  down  their  cheeks,  v*' the 
poor  priest  was  alive  and  well,  but  as  he 
could  n't  say  mass  in  daytime  for  fear  of  the 
Sassenachs,  so  he  came  in  the  dea4  of  the 
night,  (at   least   it  was  about  one   or   two  '. 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  as  dark  as  pitch,) 
to  the  old  altar  where  he  used  to  offer  up  the 
mass,  and  we  just  came  up  at  the  time.     It 
was  good  luck  for  him  that  theire  were  no 
English  with  us,  for  we  had  been  sent  round 
over  night  by  a  short  cut  to  meet  them  at  a 
place  by  daylight,  where  they  were  to  attack 
a  great  castle  belonging  to  Desmopd.     To 
tell  ye   the  truth,  boys,  we  were   at   first 
nearly   M   much   frightened   as   ye  were  a 
-minute  ago,  when  we  saw  the  light  burning^ 
in  such  a  lonesome  plaice  at  that  hour  of  the 
-nigM,  but  the  baron  told  us  to  wait  a  little 
until  he  went  and  peeped  in,  and  he  came 
back  in  a  minute  or  two  to  tell  us  what  it 


sr. 


RBO   HAND   or   ULSTER. 


49 


chill  of 

and  lift 


»» 


Brian, 

laughed- 
«8,  .*'  the 
At  as  he 
ai;  of  the 
4  oi  the 

^ot  two  ' 
as  pitch,) 
Per  up  th« 
time,     ft 

were  no 
ent  round 
hem  at  a 

to  attack 
o^d.  To 
B  at  first 
e  were  a 
t  burning 
>ur  of  the 
lit  a  little 
I  he  came 
IS  what  it 


meant ;  for  ye  know  he  can  read  every  thing 
that  he  sees  like  i  book,  and,  as  I  said,  we 
wer'e   glad   enough,   and   heard   mass   with 
more  devotion,  I  think,  than  any  of  us  ever 
did  before.     The  priest  was  a  little  surprised 
when  he  saw  the  baron  kneeling  beside  the 
altar,  but,  of  course,  he  went  on  with  the 
ntasjl,  ^nd  when  it  was  over,  Baron  Hugh 
soon  banished  his  fears,  and  many  a  mass  ye 
both  heard  the  same  priiil  say." 
/«  Why,  iiow  is  that,  Teague?** 
**  Sure,  because.  Father  Fitzgerald  is  the 
Very  man,  for  the  baron  dressed  him  up  like 
I  /one  of  us,  and  sent  him  home  with  letters  to 
the  baroness,  and  kept  him  ever  since  at  the 
castle;     And  that  other  old  friar  that  ven- 
tured back  for  the  crucifix,  as  I  told  you,— • 
well  he 's  over  there  in  the  Abbey  of  Donegal, 
for  he 's  of  the  same  order ;  and  when  the 
)aron  happened  tb  find  him  out  one  day  in 
imerick,  he  sat  /down  jutid  wrote  with  him 
10  th^  young  chi^f,  his  brother-in-law,  that 
8,  Mugh  B^e,  the^son  of  the  O'Donnell,  and 
jnt  one  of  our  men  with  him  to  Donegial, 
■  4  ■' 


^ 


■  I       I     11.11  I . 


u- 


nil       It   'I   •;" 


'V- 


■^^ 


.-^.-If- 


60 


RBD   HAND  OF   XJLSTERI^ 


givmg  them  directions  how  they  were  to  go 

to  avoid  the  English."  ^ 

"Well,  sure  enough,"  Said  Brian,  ** he  s 
not  the  man  I  took  him  for,"  ani  he  drew  a 
long  breath  as  though  relieved  from  some 
pressure,  yet,  if  the  truth  were  known, 
honest  Brian,  ay,  and  Art  too,  were  no  little 
disappointed  to^^  find,  that  the:  ghost  was  no 

ghost  after  alL' 

Soon .  after,  the  conversation  turned  on^a 
wonderftil  fortune-teller  or  wise-woman,  as 
ahe  was  called  in  the  Irish  tongue,  who  had 
established  herself  in  the  neighborhood  some 
weeks  before.     The  mystery  which  shrouded 
this  personage  tended  nO  litUe  to  increase 
the  awe  with  which  she  was  regarded  by  the 
simple  clansmen  of  Tyr-owen,  as  well  as  by. 
Wr  wiVes  and  daugliters.     No  one  could 
tell  whence   or   how    she   came    into    the 
country,  nor  yet  the  particular  place  of  her 
abode.      In  fact,  she  appeared  to  have  no 
fixed  residence,  but  moved  from  one  focality 
'  to  another  with  a  celerity  that  surprised  and 
alarmed  the  people.     Many  were  the  wonder- 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


51 


ful  stories  told  pf  her  sUperHuman  knowl- 
edge, and  ^  instances  not  a  few  were  brought 
forward  in  support  of  her  supposed  power  of 
diving  into  the  future.     Now  it  had  often 
been  a.  subject  of  debate,  amongst  the  work- 
men in  the  c^ve,  for  what  purpose  their  lord 
could  be  preparing  such  a  (quantity  of  bullets* 
"For,  surely,"  said  one  to  ahbther,  "if  he 
was  jgoing  out  again  with  tlie  English,  he  'd 
have  no  gjed  to  make  any  preparations  of 
the  kind.  -^    And,  as  it  never  entered  their 
mind  that  he,  of  all  men,  contemplated  war 
against   the   queen's   government,    so    they 
were  sorely  puzzled  to  know  what  it  eould 
mean,  and  why  the  business  was  carried  on 
with  such  secrecy.  •   On  the  night  following 
^the  conversation  above  related,  .Art  proposed 
that  they  should  some  of  them  Apply  |o  the 
wise-woman,  who,  of  course,  could  enifghten 
them  on  the  subject,  as  nothing  was  unHnown 
to  ^er.      Ta  this   proposal  the   others 'all 
agreed  with   the  ^  exception  of  Phelim,  by 
whom  it  was  vehemently  opposed.     "For,"*^ 
said  he,  with  as  much  reasbn  as  right  feeling, 
"what  is  it  to  us  what  Baron  Hugh  wants 


* 


_t£ 


♦•■. 


■,1_ 


^J 


■  !;*  ■ 


5^ 


RED   HAN»   OF   ULSTER. 


the  bullets  for  ?— it  is  our  duty  to  work  away 

at  them  without  troubling  ourselves  about 

what  th^  are  for,  since  he  didn't  think  it 

•right  t^ell  us.     What  would  he  think^of 
us^ie  knew  that  we  inarched  off  to  a  wise- 

„^an  to  ask  her  any  thing  about  it  ?     Wbat 
could  he  think,  but  that  we  were  prying  into 
his  business  and  into  what  didn't  conc^n^ 
us  ?     So,  boys,  let  ns  hear  no  mJte  oi  such 
folly,  or  we  may  live  to  be  all  sorry."      -  ^ 
"Well,  well,  Phelim,  agra,  say  no  more 
about  it,"  cried  teague,  "for  since  it  might 
displease^the  baron  if  he  heard  it,  wc  '11  give 

up  the  notion."  '  ^  ^ 

.  But,  notwithstanding  this  assurance,  they 
did  not  give  up  the  notion ;  and,  during  the 
day,  the  three  were  wont  to  meet  and  talk 
over  the  fecheme.  It  is  true,  they  would  not 
od  any  account  have  revealed  the  secret  wil- 
fully, but,  bei«jg  of  opinion  that  the  wise; 
woman  was  ajieady  as  well  acquainted  with 
thfe  matter  as  was  the  baron  himself,  they 
concluded  that  applying  to  her  for  informal 

tion  could  Hn    no    way  ^^^  ^''^-^^^.  ^ 
violating  the  trust  reposed  in 'them.    "Th^jj/ 


•   rm 


t    , 


\l 


BED   HAND   OF  ULSTER. 


5^ 


ork  away 
es  about 
think  it 
thinks  of 
;o  a  wise- 
?  What 
•ying  into 
:  concQin' 
3  of  such 


r. 


»> 


no  more 
;  it  might 
ve  '11  give 


i,. 


"^ 


ance,  they 
luring  the 
:  and  talk 
would  not 
secret  wil- 
the  wise; 
linted  with 
nself,  they 
)X  informa- 
Lsidered   as  . 
em.  "Tln^y 


were  in  this  frame  of  mind,  wishing,  yet 
fearing,  to  .meet  the  spae- woman,  when,-  as 
Brian  and  T^ague  were  going  togetlier 
;h  the  Wood  in  the  direction  of  the 
relieve  the  other  two,  who  should 
they  spy,  sitting  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen 
beech,  but  the  identical  personage  of  whom 
they  had  been  speaking!  Neither  of  them 
had  ever  seen  her  before,  but  her  appearance 
was  familiar  to  them  by  description,  an^ 
even  if  it  were  not  so,  they  could  not  possi- 
bly Inistake  her  identity.  Yes ;.  there  she 
sat,  b^nt  almost  two  double,  with  her  small, 
withered  face,  and  long,  sharp  nose,  and  a 
pai^-  of  black,  twinkling  eyes,  that  looked  as 
though  they  could  pierce  a  stone  wall.  Then 
there  was  her  short,  red  cloak  thrown  over 
her  humped  shoulders,  and,  for  head-gear,  a 
kerchief  of  the  same  color  tied  loosely  under 
the  chin,  scarcely  keeping'  back  her  gray, 
coarse  hair,  which  obstinately  protruded  i 
elf-locks'  around  her  face.  She  looked  up  as 
the  men  approached,  and,  seeing  that  they 
stopped  suddenly,  as  though  fearing  to  come 
up,  she  made  a  sigit  with  her  crutch  for  them 


-J-i-V- 


•-x 


•  'V- 


/BD   HAND   6f  tJLBT]^. 


r 


,*!"•"  If      ■ 


.      s 


^4 

to  draw  near.^   A  low,  cackling  laugh  dis- 
temled  Her   toothless  jaws  as  th^y  obeyed, 
and   slie  said,  with  an  attem]i*t  at   ciYiUty 
which   sat   badly^  upon  he^  ^^  A  vfair  good 
evening  to  ye  ^oth,.Brian-^  Teague  O'Ha. 
^n;  methinks  y^  have  tarried  over^oifg,  for   ^ 
.  the  sun  is  even  now  sunk  behind  the  hills,  and 
'  your  comi:a(fes>  -^t  ^d  Phelim;   must  "be  -- 
'tired  waiting."    .^he  spoke  in  good,  pure 
Irish  ;  and  every  word  sank  into  the  hearty 
of  the  awe-stricken  listeners, 

'*  The  Lord  be  good  Unto  us,  Teague," 
said  Brian,  in  alo^,  iearful  voice, /to  his 
brother,  "  thou  seest  it  is  all  true  ;  she/ knows  , 
mir  names,  and;  all  about  our _  workl" 
(^Before  Teague  could  answer,  the  harsh 
laugh,  or  rather  chuckle,  was  heard  again, 
aid  the  croaking  accents  of  the  witch  made 
both  the  Ihen  silBnt  iiiNan  instant.  . 

"And  what  wonder  is-  that,  Brian  O'^Ha- 
gan?  What  is  there  on  earth  or  in  air  hid- 
den from  the  wise-woman  of  the  woods  ?  Ha, 
ha !  It  doth'^make  me  laugh  to  see  the  cau- 
tion with  which  thy  master  locks  u^  his 
secret ;  but  iCe  cannot  lock  it  up  from  me  1 " 


.^''". 


w 


^RED    HAND   OF    ULSTER.  ' 


M^ 


v"^e  know  that,  dame  ;  we  know  tkat,"  -r , 
said  Teaguq,   soothingly,   and  to  show  thee^^. 

r  that  we  do,  we  have.been  rtiin}cing,  for  some  ^  ^ 
days,  of  going  to  ask '  your*  J;!%shipP>qvesr^-^^^ 
tion  or  two/'     He   stopped :  ^n^   hesitated;^   - 
but  Brian  nudged  him  with  his:  jelbow'tp  ^go  .' -. 

I  dtiy  rihd   Teague  proc^ded-*-"  we   want  to 

I  know  what  the  baroii-  intends  to  db  with-agt ..; 
the  bullets  that  he  ha^.p.s  rUak^itg  ?i' ';;  (  >    '  - 
AiHtOuderand  ipore  isfcoriifjil  itiiigh  burst  *> 
from   the/\^itch4  ^vAii^ia  it:  no^^yeask.:  • 
that  question,  poor,  fopilish  creatures  thatj  5'^  ■ 

r^atte?     What,  think:  'ye,xCOttld  he  make  the 

bullets'" for  (so  gecitetly/too,)  but  to  shoot  the 

Eiiglish  enfemy  !---ha'l  hal  ha !'  find  he   ii 

gone  to  Ty'reonnell,  toW,  to  look  ftjr  help,frO^ 

O'Donneil.  '  Ye   knew   not  thkt,   ehher,,/!^ 

H warrant  me.  \Be:ofFwitli>ye,  poor.ipQls.     I  i^ 
do  but  waste  my" woixlsV oil  suGh.as^ye!  "land, ^   • 
■  seizing  her  crutch,  she  arose,  as  though  in  a 
passior^  shaking  her 'hand  meit€icingly\at'  the 
meni  who,  on  their  parts^  needed  lio, second 
bidding;  ibr  their  tetroi^  liad  risen  to*  such ^ v 
^a  pitch  that  they  were^-alrea«%:  liJis^ening 
with  all  their ^fteed^     It  surely  did  4iot    ' 


;  V^l 


away 


V* 


r 


/ 


5^ 


■>.;■.• 


»BD   HAND   OF   t^tSTER. 


ksseii  their  fears  "wheii  the:  Wood  ratig  with 
the  loud,  derisiVe  laugh  of  the  witch.  As 
they  took  good  care  to  keep  their  own  secrets, 
Vo  they-never^ve  the  slightjsst  hint  to  their 
companions  of  their  having  encountered  the. 
Wise-woman.        -  4 

That  very  day,  the  baron  Tceached  home  a 
disappointed  inan,  as  has  already  been  shown, 
and  a  week  only  had  elapsed. when  he  was 
^summoned  to  appear  before  th6'  deputy,  to 
'  answer  various  charges,  9:ne  ofvthem  beiilg 
^at  he  was*  secretly  i>reparing  w^r  stores. 
O'Neill  was  astounded  by  this  acfeu^^tion, 
and  hastened  vat  once  to  the  cave,  to  ascertain 
whether  the  sedret  could  have  leaked  out 
there.  All,  of  course,  protested  that  they 
had  never  breathed  a  word  of  it  t6  any  one, 
and  that  they  had  neglected  none  of  the  pre- 
cautions enjoined  them.  With  this  a^surT 
ance,  tjie  baron  was,  of  necessity,  obliged  tp 
jest  satisfied,  never  dreaming  that  any^  of  the 
men,  hitherto  so  trustwoi^thy,  were  now  pre- 
varicating: Whether  the  O'Magans  had  any 
misgivings  or  not  as   to  the  result  of  their 


*/i 


conference  with  the  spae-womanj  they  kept 


H  1 


-  \ 


-IS? 

"A 


HED!  HANB  OF  tILSTEE/ 


57 


-  ■  > 

/       ■.  .A 


a  total^ilettcfe  on  that  subject,  justly^  fearing 
that  their'  loM  would  not  view  the  matter 

«8  they  did. ^.';..' ■V-':-\'   ■''   '^  "■■  ~:'--"/\.-  ^    , 

i^Qnhis  ^rriy^yjn ;  Dublin,  aNeill  fbuiid 

the  deputy  SSr^gfxi^i^H®^^^^^  suspic-  " 
iori  th,at   he   could   scarcely  heai*  him  with 
patience,  whereupon  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  proceed  to   liOndon;  and   see   the  queen 
herself. /^is  reception -at  coi^rt  was  at  first 
anything    i>ut    gracious;    for     malice    had 
spared  no  pains  to  prejudice  the-  royal  mind  > 
against  hiin.     But,  a^    Elizabeth,   made^  no  . 
direct  charges^  so  the  baroua^^fted  not  to 
notice  her  coldness,  and  till  her  hinta  of  dis- 
,  loyalty  aixd  disafiection  w^r^e  adroitly  mot  and 
answered  by  details  of  th^Geraldine,  war  and 
"  llie  iibrtherii  insurreetio^.     ^Plizahieth  tajked 
jof  smooth-faced;.traitors,  ^nd   O'Neill/even  J 
outdid  her  majesty  in  the  severity  oyris  con-, 
'  demhation,  .carefully  "keeping    his  ren?arks  ■ 
!  confined  tO  generalities,^  though, he  never 
dreamed  of  suchtufepicions  having  reference 
to  himself     The   qUeen   inveighed   agajinst- 
the  base  ingratitude  of  certain  Mh  lords, 
whereupon  Q'Neill  declared  that  her  maj- 


7,--.-.- 


r>4.. . 


5S 


BED.  HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


esty  could  have  no  iclca  of  what  it  was,  but, 
wemshe  amongst  them  as  he,  was,  then  she 
m{g\ft  know  something  of  its  extent.  KVer, 
as  the  conversation  prpgressed,'  the>  queen 
wonld  open  her  eyes  in  astonishment,  and 
fix  them  en  jJlie  baron's  face,  as  though  seek- 
ing to  pierce  the  veil  which  covered  his  real 
^sentimerits,  but  as  often  did  slie  make  a  gest- 
ure of  impatiencCj  and  break  out  anew  into 
vehement  invdctives  against  deceit,  and  ^-  . 
simukition  and  treachery,  and'  what  not ;  for, 
on  the  features  of  G'Neill,  tliDse,.calm,  pa&- 

^^ionlessfeatui'ies,^  there  was  not  a  trace  X)f 
confusion,  even  beneath  the  keenest  scrutiny 
of  he^  piercing  eye..  At  l^ast  -she  took  up  a 
golden  staff  which  rented  against  her  arm- 
chair,  an^  striking  it  violently  against  the 

■  floor,  she  cHed,  in  her  shrill,  sharp  voice:  ' 
<*  By  th6  soul  of  tlie  eighth  Henry,  our 
royal  father !  but  we  give  the  matter  up. 
^!My  lord  of  >  Dungannen,  thou  art-  either.*  an 
injured  and  calumniated  man,  oi*  the  greatest 
knave  fro ni  here  to  Tyburn!"^  • 

*^As   I   would    fain    believe,"    returned 


O'Neilt  with  a  tranquil  smile,   "that  your/ 


-4. 


* 


-I 


/ 


y,~> 


{ 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER.  , 


59 


majesty  could  never  be  brought' to  couple" 
the  latter   epithet  >vUh   my   »anie,   so  do  I. 
venture  to  hope  that  my  gracious  so^fcrcign 
loojcs  pon  me  jj^^  iV)rmer  Irght.^   I  have 
h^iird^  indeed;  fbnithiO  iiord  peputy,  that 
certain  absurd  accusations  had  been  'lodged 
agist  m^  but  the,  tidir^s  gave  me, neither  { 
surprise  nor  alarm,  because  I  liave  bec*7tp^^^|; 
iilghly  favored  by  your  majesty  to  escape^^h^  / 
shafts  of  envy,  \vliile,  on  the  other  h^d|.  In 
did  li^ke  boldto  imagiue  that  yow'  hfj^hne^s 
hud^;  many  substantial   reas(ms   for  r^ecting; 
the  foul  calumnies !  *'         A^     f  y     ^        :   .T| 
"Ay!"   said    Elizabeth,  lafc^ptly^  **% 
thqught.w^  had  established  some   claimson 
thy  gratitude  as  well  as  fealty,  but  we  m\^: 
been  inlixrmed, that- of  late  days,  thou  ^ost 
eschew  these /claims,  and  despise  the  ho^ipra 
which  are  ours  to  bestow.     TJiou  canstj  not 
cleny  that,  baron  .of  Dungannon ! ' ' 

<^  I,  could  nBver  havietiie' hardihood  to  say 

your  majesty   was   in   error,  but„  methinks, 

/when  I  have  acquainted  your  highness  with 

■the  tylyect  of  my ^vistt — ^that  is,   over   and 

above  the  yendering^pf  my  p^rgoaal  homage^ 


RlD   IIXND   OP   ULSTER, 


it  will  go  far  to  sh^tv  whether  this,  accusa- 
tion is  true  or  liilse."        r;    -        ;     • 

"And  of  what  nature  may  it  be,  we  pray 
lathee?'*  demanded    Elizabeth,    jvith    some^ 
■  ■curiosity.'/,,.'-;  -■,'■'.,■"■■■./    -  K  ■'.*',■'■'■  . 

^"  As  1  am  not  igjiorant  of  your  majesty's 
.princelyliberality  in  rewarding  the  services 
of  yourloyal  followers,  so  I  had  ventured  to 
hope    that    thou    wouldst :  haviff   graciously 
deigned  to  fconfer  on  my  humble  sfelf  that  eai'l- 
dom  of  TyronV bestowed  by  your  highness V 
late  royal   father,  of  happy  memory,  on  my 
grandsire,  Coij.  'O'Neill.    The  title,  ds  your 
majesty  well  knows,  has  lain  dormant  since 
his  deaths  haje  I  dared  to  ask  too  mucht'!^- 
^M  Iw  k^t  his  Icnee  before  her,  arid  bowed 
his   stately   head    with    so   much    apparent, 
respect,  that  Elizabeth  could  not  choose- bftt  ^ 
believe  him  really  covetous  of  the  titl^,  and, 
with  a  welKpleased  countenance,  she  extended 
her  hand,'^  laid  it  playfully  on  his  shoul- 
der.^  >•  Then  arise,  my  lord  ;  and  be  hence- 
forward known   as  Earl  of  tyrone^ood 
faith !  it  were  pity  to  let  so  fair  a  title  sleep   > 
idly   in   the  told's   office,  and  so  accent 


\'':M 


■Wm 


-V 


^. 


Bfcl)   HAND   ()P   UI.8TE11. 


61 


plished  a  courtier,  tne  grandson  of  its  last 
possessor,  having  but  the  poor  name  of  Baron 
of  Duhgannott*  Arise  1  My  lord  earl,  we 
shall  see  that  the  appendages  of  thy  new 
grade  are  duly  given  thee,  and  land  ^nough 
to  sup|)ort  thy  rank  !  **    ; 

O'Neill,  of  course,  Was  profuse  in  his 
acknowledgments,  but  kept  himself  on  his 
guard  frfr  what  he  well  knew  was  to  follow.^ 
Elizabeth,  having,  as  she  considered,  bribed 
the  chkfiain  anew,  failed  ^ot  to  propose  new 
conditions  to  be  fulfilled  by  him.  Thus, 
when  she  gave  him  a  grant  of  a  large  portu 
of  the  district  of  Tyr-owen,  it  was  that  he 
might  have  yet  a  greater  interest  in  opposing 
oldTirlo^h,  (with  whom,  nevertheless,  she 
hypocritically  charged  him  to  live  on  good 
terms,)  and  one  of  her  express  conditions 
,  was,  that  he  should  keep  an  eye  to  the  north- 
ern chieftains,  and  be  ready  to  coalesce  with 
her  generals  to  put  down  the  first  appearance 
of  disaffection-.  He  \vas  also  to  keep  a  sharp 
lookoufe-lor  popish  priests,  and  on  no  account 
to  encourage  their   religion.     To  all  these 


>:■,•., 


things  O'Neill  gave  evasive  aaswers,  wlxich. 


RED    II AMU    OF   UI^TEH. 


6^ 


though  they  did  not  quite  fiatisfy  Klizahcth, 
tv€rc  the  best  she  couM  obtain.  And  m  t^hc 
cUsmiascd  the  wify  chicftuia,  aft£r  haying 
Icept   him   a  week   undW  <^  pii^^^  or 


'^»-,-;fc' 


-v-^4- 


aiiother  :  h«  went  homo  a  bcJted  earl,but  the 
queen  was  just  where  she  was -before  ;  Wish- 
ing, yet  hardly  daring  to  believe  him  devoted 
■ ;,  to  her  intetest;,.  - i       ■  *\  ■.■; •^' ■''■■..';:  ■ 

He  w-as  only  a  few  days  returned  to  Dun- 
gannon,  when  he  sent   liis  eldest  son  to  be 
fostered  by  O'Cahan,  praying  that  chieftain 
to  make  him  a  man  after  his  own  heart,  and 
he  could  desire  no  more.     This  was  the  most 
flattering  token  of  friendship  that  he  could 
bestow,  and  O'Cahan,  valuing  it  as  it  de^erVed,' 
^ecame  thenceforward  th^  unalterableilfiiend 
/of  O'Neill,  and  the  confidant  of  all  his  patri- 
l!?^?  projects.     He,  in  turn,  brought  over  his 
:friblcls  arid  allies,  to  join  the,  confederacy, 
whife  the  warlike  McDonnell,  Jin  his  mou^ 
tain   territory,  neglected   no  opportunity  of 
forwardingthe  national  cause.     To  bind  him 
fetill  more  strongly,  the  earl"  s^nt  his  brother, 
Cormac  O'Keill,  to  teach/th/clansmen  of  the 

-r,  as  known  to  his 


Glynns  the  science  of 


'* 


.  :^* 


HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


iM 


# 


own  people  ;  a  service  which  was  gratcfull 
acknowledged  by  Sorley  Bpdhe^  fully  sfiiai- 
ble,  as  he  was,  of  the  advantage  it  wogild  pve 
him  in  any  future  trial  of  strength  or  skill. 
Day  by  day,  the  league  extended  itjjelf  under 
the  powerful  agency  of  O'Neill,  until  it 
embraced  within  its  circle  by  ilir ,  the  greater 
number  of  the  chiefs  of  XJlster.  /ITet  still 
there  was  wanting  one  mighty  link  to  Aake 
'it  8itr(|)ng  and  binding,  J^^MtjLbat  was  the 
chief  of  Tyrconnell.  AuothlP|freat  obstacle 
existed  in  the  passive  character  of  him  who 
then  ruled  Tyr-o>ven  ;  anu  though  the  popu- 
lar voice  would  have  joyfuUykkaiicd  the  earl 
of  Tyrone  as  chief,  still  he  shrank  from 
deposing  the  .poor  old  man  who  nominally 
exercised  the  supreme  power.  But  when, 
in  the  course  of  some  rtionths,  he  was  urged 
by  the  chfef  tributaries  of  the  sept, "and  by 
the  publicly  expressed  wish  of  the  clanWen, 
to  assume  the  name  of  the  O'Neill,  he.no 
longer  refused,  (provided  Tirlogh  Lynrtorcli' 
would  consent  to  the  change,)  well  knowing 
how  much  more  efficaciously  he  could  then 
work  for  the  national  cause.     A  deputatipn 


'V- 


7' 


/      • 


if 


1/ 


■nil  j<  ^««ili  J^U^'UJ 


»'■ 


.»h:<j..- 


■y  >• 


\-  k- 


r.i 


l 


64 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


of  the  chiefs  having  waited  on  Tirlogh,  he 
^  was  induced  to  give  his  consent,  and  resign 
V  his  office  to  Hugh  O'Neill,  Avho  Was  there- 
up6n  solemnly  inaugurated  as  the  O'Neill. 
It  was  a  joyous  day  for  the  principality  of 
Tyr-owen,  when,  amid  its  proudest  and  most 
honored-^-araid  its  warriors,  and  priests,  laid 
bards,  sat  Hugh  O'Neill  on  the  chair  of  stonS, 
oh  the  rath  of  Tulloghoge,  with  the  banner 
of  his  house— the  snow-white  banner,  with 
its  blood-red  hand,  waving  above  him,  and 
I  he  walked  three  times  around  and  arbund, 
according  to  the  immemorial  custom  of  his 
predecessors,  and  then  he  was  saluted  as  the , 
O'Neill,  a  title'  which  he  would  not  have 
exchangi^d  for  that  of  king  ;  for  itself  included 
the  royal  title  of  Prince  of  Ulster,  compared 
to  which  all  other  names  were,  in  his  ;eyes, 
and  that  of  thousands  there,  as  nothing. 

No\a\  it  w|LS  that  O'Neill  applied  himself 
energetlcall)^  to  prosecute  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion. He  had  nqw  within  his  own  domains 
a  large  available  force 'j  bttt,  with^the  excep- 
tlon  o  of  the  six  companieg  kept  up  for  the 
queen's    service  (!)    the   clansmen    of  Tyr- 


i  -I 


.'^A, 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTfc. 


65 


oweh,  though  "  good  men  and  true,"  ^ere 
singularly  untutored  in  the  modern  art  of 
war,  and   consequently   little   able .  to   cdj)e 
with  the  soldiers  of  England      To^  any  other  * 
than  O'Neill,  this  woiiltl  have  been  a  mighty    . 
obstacle,  for,  as  it  still  behooved  him  to  keep 
on  terms  with  the  government,  how  Was  he 
to  set  about  drilling  and  exercising  his  peo- 
ple in  the  face  of  certain  discovery  ?  "  Bi| t  no 
obstacle  was   too   great  for   the   earl's   all 
inventive   mind ;  so  he   boldly  commenced 
and  carried  on  the- work  after  this  manner. 
Tender  _  pretence    of    obeying    the    queen's 
instructions,  by  holding  himself  in  readiness 
for  the  first  emergency,  he  daily  exercised  - 
his  men— that  is  tjp  say,  the  queen's  six  com- 
panies—but always  contriving  to  substitute 
new,  as  soon  as  their  predecessors  were  per- 
fectly well  trained.     Tl^us,  while  ostensibly 
keeping  the  queen's  soldiers  in  readiness,  he 
was  really  clrilling  gind  trainibg  the  whole 
male  population  of  Tyr-owen,  and/ in  \;he 
course  of  a  few  mopths,  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  them  as>Vpert  in  the  use  of  their 

— r~5 ^ — ^ — ~ -^ 


.r* 


•>• 


/ 


,1 


:0 


■■'<i 


m*'- 


RED   imND   OF   ULSTERv 

■'{  /^eapons,  and  in  the  vnrioos  military  evolu- 
tions of  iie  day,  a*;  any  men  could  be  made. 

r:^:'.  Such  was  the  public  Hfe  of  Hugh  O'Neill 

_  during  these  first  preparatory  years,  ind,  if 
*  little  has  been  said  of  his  private  life,  it  is 
that  nothing  could  possibly  present  less  of 
interest.  By  a  singular  dispensation  of 
Providence,  or,  perhai^through  his  own 
instihctive  desire  of  balSi|'Elizabeth's  views, 
he  had  chosen,  while  yet  very  young,  (as  has 
already  been  told,)  a  woman  who  possessed 
liot  one  of  those  qualities  which  might  be 

i  .^supposed  to  excite  his^  admiration.     About 
glijer  person  there  was  nothing  remarkable,  so 

'  t^at,  if  she  could  lay  no  claim  to  beauty, 
there  was  at  least  nothing  repulsive  jn  her 
appearance.  Andhermindwas  just  as  medi- 
ocre as  her  person.  It  might  have  been 
more  so;  for  the  lady  Judith  O'lS'eill  (or 
the  Countess  of  Tyrone)  was  precisely  one 
of  those  who  seein.  sent  into  the  world  to  fill 

.    •*£v         ■  ^  .■■■  ... 

up  a  place  which  an  automaton  tnigbtt  do  as 


well,  neither  acting  nor  caring  t<>  act,  any 
part  in  the  great  drama  going  on  around. 


1-  '  i 


M' 


<      .. 


BED   IMND   OF   ULSTER. 


67 


Yet  she  was  a  carefulj  if  not  a  clever  or  judic- 
ious mother ;  and,  as.  a  wife  jith  a  husband 
of  a  less  elevated  mind  an^character,  she   \ 
might  have ^ade  a  tolerably  good  one  ;  for 
Judith*  was  submissive  as  submissive  could 
be,  and  had   so  high  a  reverence   for  her 
lordly  husband  that  she   scarcely  ever  ven- 
tured to  raise  her  eyes  to  his  lace.     In  short, 
she  was  just  a  good,  quiet  woman,  without 
any  distinctive  mark,  and,  as  such,  the  very 
wife,  of  all  others,  tKeleiist  suited  to  the 
courtly,    and     aspiring,    and    lofty-minded 
O'Neill.     Such  being  the  case,  it  was  hot  at 
all  5Utp|^sing   that,  though  he  ever  treated 
her  witly  the  respect  and  consideration   due 
to  his  wife,  and  the  mother  of  his  children, 
yet  she  had  never  called  forth,  in  hislheart, 
that  love,  of  which  Jiis  warm,  genial  nature 
was  susceptible.     Often,  when  weighed  down 
with  the  many  cares  of  the  precarious  and 
4ifficubpathhe  had  phosen,  an  involuntary    * 
sigh  would  jesca|e   him   as   he  JJiought  of 
Judith's   all  but    imbecility,  and  then   his 
yearning  heart  would  long  for  the  communion 
of  some  kindred^ind  as  the  first  of  earthly 


\ 


68- 


>RpI>  HAND  OF  n^TER, 


m 


k^i,--  .'^- 


blessipgs.  Yet,  from  a  principle  of  4uty , 
lie  ever  repressed  these  ping  regrets,  as  so^n 
as.  he  became  conscious  pfl  their  tendency, 
and  the  less  attraction  he  founA^wtthin  big 
family  circle,  the  more  eagerly^aid  he  throw 
himself  into  the  grand  project  whose  noble- 
ness captivated  his  mind. 

Latterly,   he   had   found   an  enlightened 
friend  in  his  chaplain,  who  had  studiM  in 
various   Gontifiental   colleges j  and  had  seen 
I  the  world,  both  in  courts  and  cities.     He  was 
1^  «l^  of  singular  piety,  yet  none  the  less 
attached  to  his  country,  for  which,  indeed,' 
he'feherished  an  affection  commensurate  with^ 
its  sufferings.     The  pompanionshlp  of  such 
a  man  was  a  truly  invaluable  acquisitioft  to 
the  earl,  deprived,  as  he  was,  of  congenial 
society,  and  though  fee  thought  it^ti^neces- 
sary  to  ope%to  the  good  priest  all   his  plans 
and, their  extent, "yet  he  found  pleasure  in  ^ 
discoursing  with  iiim  on  the  condition  of  thei 
country,'  and  the  state  of  public  feeling,  as 
'  fer  as  that  was  or  could  he  known*     Now 
Fathftr  McNamara   had  a  habit  of  making 
short  tours  through'  the  country"  for  the  pur- 
:-J 1  -     Z  ^ *  _L_..J     ,  _. 


.'v.' 


■-^^r 


.,\ 


V  V : 


BED   HAND   OF   ULSTBK. 


69. 


posewpf  atlministeritt^  the  sacraments,  and 
affording  spirittial  t  cbii|olation  to  such  laa 
iiight  require  his  aid,  in  the  absence  of  their 
own  pastors.;-  In  generali  he  confined  him- 
6elf  to,  the  territory  o|  Tyrone,  and  that  by 
th^,advice  of  the  earl.  ^Sometimes,  however, 
his  zeal  Would  cany  him  into  the  adjoining 
districts^  and,  on  one  of  these  occasions,  when 
he  had  ventured  eveii  within  a  few  miles  of 
Newry,  he  was  seized  by  some  of  Bagnal's 
soldiers,  out  on  a' foraging  party,  and  dragged 
into  the  presence  of  the  marshal,  w^koJiad 
him   cast   int6  iHfiJEisori,  and   heavily  iSped, 


ajeaiting  a  more  formal  trial. 
ii  A  less  devoted  ^Christian  might  have 
.  escaped;  for  he  wore^tto^peculiard^bit^  and 
-might  easjiy  have  framed  ^some'ifilkusible 
ex^cuse,  but  no  such  idea  crossed  the  upright 
and  simple  mind  of  the 'good  father,  who, 
when  questioned  ^  as  to  his.  calling,  frankly 
c(Aifessed  it;  ;  Even  the  object  of  his  leaving 
home  he  did  not  attempt  to  conceaJ,  and  thus, 
of  course,  committed  himself^;  'fhe  illtaly 
thing  he  refused  to  reyeal  w^s  the  place  of 
his  abode,   fearing   to   implicate   his   noble 


i 


r\ 


«* 


4  '^<r 


^^heir  mqi3|if9»pti  Wis  apt) 

;ir, fierce  thrqalfi^f*  vengeance 

lid   obstinate,  tMonly  answer 

obtain   wa?,    «*■  4i||riest .  of  the 

••'  i  'Jn^'%SL  Has  no  fixed  home  on  earn  ;  his  dweL 

ling  isiwherevet  a  soul  r6i.(g[aut^  his  aid. 

So  he  >Vas  ^thrown   into   pi'ison^Cbs   already 

W^§,    '•  .   mentionecLg^d  Jjboked  forM^ardl^  an  early 

"''^   '  \  and  perhal^'iiMieV  death.'    Priestte  were  sel- 

<  dom  visited  i|:«;those  days  '.witlj^  lenient^ jpun- 

,  ishrhent,  >iid   their   execution   was    almost 


V      < 


i}      5    ^variably  |)refceded  by.  iingerii^W  tormeiits. 


CHAPTER   Ii;. 


•♦Ho'er  had  a'ifaiad  or  a  Qpacei- 
A  finer  foi^m  or  loveUerfuce." 

'  SOOTT'8  iiADt  0 

.  iMj^^  ^  tierfect  woman  nobly 

The  mock  trial  Was  o 
expected.   Father   Mc 
emned  to  death,  but,  a<|a  s 
ercy,  he    was   to  be  .hun^  '^y,  the  neck     '^ 
/until  dead,"%ithout  any  prelimindlry  torture^ 
As  it  W^^  then  late,   tll|||  ^execution    wa^ 


d,<as.  might 
was   con%  ' 
stretch  of  ^ 


■^^1- 


|»EP   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


'■'iV: 


n 


deferred  till  the  following  day,  and  the  priest 
was  a^aih  .consigned  to  the  gloomy  solitude 
of  Ms  9^1      It  was  already  drawing  towards 
ftie  twilight  when  a  gallant  troop  of  cavalry 
rode  through  the  fortress  town  of  Newry, 
and  stopped  before  the  ra*rshar&  quarters. 
Bagnal  was  just  then  occupied  in  writing  an 
exaggerated  account  of  the  priest's  capture 
subsequent  condemnation  for  the  special 
eye  of  ipajesty,  when  a  soldier  entered  with 
thitidiijgsjthijt  the  Earl  of  Tyrone  waited 
,,  wMout,  d^iring^to^see  Sir  Henry  Bagnal. 
fow,  if  there .^was^qne  n^an  on  earth  whom 
lagnal  hated  morfe  than  all  others,  that  man 
^as^  Tyrone,   whom   he    both    feared    and 
fenv^^^ipll^fc^tOT.u^se  •  was,  therefore,  to 
rei}^lfl^a^^l^ iiit'^a-yoice  of  8oftest\ 
ni^f  apok^  ^om  :the   d||p*iieqe8«'»of  an 
adjoining   mndow,'!)egg;(]^   that. th^ earl 
](j^i^t*bei!ldmitted.^"Havepi^<*iWyWoi;i^-     >  . 
dnish  curiosity  Jl6nty,*^saidtii?sweej;voic^»  ' 
',  *«„i».>.      i   deny  me  jSt  jirh^  m^^be      ^ 

to  see  this  so-mutai^a|j|jBa'-of';j|(L 
ive  to  examine  these  animals 


m 


»> 


i 


\\ 


,1 


n 


RED   HAND   OF   ITLSTEll. 


-   '       -  '  ,       ■ 

."  Admit  him,  sirrah ! "  said  Bagnil ;  and 
whdh  the  soldier  had  left  the  room,  he  spoke 
in  allusion  to  the  lady's  last  words,--"  Aye, 
but  this  O'Neill  is  none  of  your.wild  Irish- 
men,—would  he  were,  for  then  would*  he  be 
far  less  dangerous,     t^^o,  lio,  Arabella ;  he  re 
is  a  fellow,  who,  to  all  the  natural  cunning*! 
of  hisjrace,  and  their  courage,  too;  adds  th^* 
knowledge  Avhich  majc  be  gained^n  courfe 
alone— curse   him !— and   so   greft   are  his 
powers  of  persuasion,   that  a  doisen  words 
from  him  Will  wheedle  Elizabeth  out  of  her 
fiercest  anger." 
>      "Well,  truly,"  s^d  Arabella,  with  a  laugh,  ^ 
"thou   hast  much   increased   my\  curiosity, 
though  I  am  inclined  to  believe^  that   thy; 
fears  do  overrate  his  talents  and  ^omplish- 
iilents."     As  she  spoke,  she  moyetb^r  seat 
a  little  so  as  to  have  a  better  yi^w^f  the 

expected  visitor.  ;F 

1  At  that  tnomeht,  the  earl  entered*  and 
though  \Bagnal  stood  up  to  recj^ive  him,  he 
"chose  not  to  return  th^  courteous  salutation 


of  O'Neill.  The  latter,  however,  took  no 
notice  of  the  insult,  but  went^  on  to  state  the 
purpose  of  his  visit,         \ 


'  "^H^H 

!  'fSBM 

^,- 

. 

\" 


'■■(.'^ 


"BfXD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


78 


"There  was  a  Roman  6atholic  priest  tried 
,  and  condemnecl  this  day,  in  Newry ;  is  it  not 


Bagnallreplied  curtly  in  the  aMrtnative. 
I     *«  And  his    crime,    of   course,    is    that      ^ 
of   havinff   exercised   the  functions   of    his    ' 
ministry  ?"  '  .        .. 

**  A   grievous  crime  in  thci  eyes  of"  th^d*  - 
law,"  said  Bagnal,  snappishly.  V 

"HumpV*  said  the  earl,  "that  may  be,  » 
but  here  in  Ulster  such  a  thing  has  never 
been  attempted  before  ;  somehow  the  law  of  ; 
I'  England  has  not  found  its  way  in  here,  and 
thiB  priest,  pelchance,  thought !  that,  as.^he 
violated   none   of  the   laws   by;  which   theh  , 
people  of  this  province  are  goye|:ned,  he  ran     ' 

jiorisk/'^ ':"-■;;.  ■  '■/''a:--'  ■:/'-■'  ^^^^^K-^^^ 

"  We  Mtftach  him  the  law  and  the  gos-j 
pel,   too,  fhat    is    all,"    returned    Bagnal, 

abruptly.'".- '■;;■■'  '"■^v..;  ■:■/•,- '■■, •'         ■:■■■■•■■.  •-  :•'■  .^     ;  "' 
"Enofc:  Sir    Henry  Bagnal    who   this     - 

priest  is  ?^  demanded  Q'NeiUt* 

»>     * 


**  Ho,  nor  does  he  care. 
;**  H^ls  my  chaplain,"  said- 
moreover,  mVjralued friend. 


m 


U 


RED  HAND  OF  tJLBTBR. 


i-;te 


J- 


X 
w 


**  So  much  the  more  reason  ibr  his  being 
got  rid  of;  his  death  will  leave  a  viper  the 

-less."   : ,     ■_..:/_■■:-'_:_.■■■.•_..:  .^-:.:_: 

^  "I  thank  thee.  Sir  Henry  Bagnal,"  said 
'fee   earl,  with  an   ironical   Bmile,'Jwit  still 
^^preserving  his  composure.     **  Thy  courtesy 
^tceeds   my  poor   deserts,^  Bethink   thee, 
/^nevertheless,  who  I  am^-and  then,  mark  me 
w^Ui  sir '"nw%al,  refuse  ipy  Request  «ir  i^ot, 
v»^en  I  £^|c  thee  to  spar^Jthe  life  of  this  jii^t 
man^^  Pw  mysiif  I  wluld  not  sue,  were 
miPfirfe  hanging  on  thy  word,  but  for  him 
do  I  i^tss  all  sd^sh  feelfigs,.And  implore 
th^,td  ibr^ve  Tiul^^  l^gnjQ,  I 

give  thee  thui|Jn  op^r^ity  to  nifitke  Tyrone 
thy  friend  foflk.^ 
,  Bagnal's  d^  face  grew  darker  stilli  and 
his  heavy  eyebrows  were  drawn  closely 
together,  yet  a  smile  curled ,  his  thin,  pale 
lip ;  it 'was  a  smile  of  satanic  exultation. 

f*  The  law  must  have  its  course  j  aye>eyen 

were  it  the  mighty  earl  of  Tj^ne,  and  not 

this  wretched  priest,  who  was  to  suffer  the 

penalty."  ^     "    «    i  ■;  . 

Arabella  Bagnal  arose  from  her  seal,  and 


w- 


i  \  .h^Tf'^'-t :  '/»' 


Ip 


»BD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


75 


"^  :&' 


his  being 
viper  the 

Qal,"  said 
•JJMit  still 
"  fcourtesy 
ink  thee, 
^  mark  me 
st"«lr  i^ot, 
f  this  jii^t 
sue,  were 
t  for  him 
d  implore 
BJignal,  I 
£e  Tyrone 

r  still>  and 
n    closely 

thin,  pale 
ation. 
;  aye,eyen 
B,  and  not 

suffer  the 


came  slowly  forward.  Fii|ln  the  moment  of 
Q^Neiirs  entrance,  her  eyes  had  never  been 
wimdrawn  from  his  face,  and,  by  a  strange 
species  of  attraction,  she  felt  herself  drawn  to 
[mpathize  in  his  feelings.  She  had  marked 
crimsc^  spot  which  her  brother's  harsh 

[am4£,^^^^"!f  ^®^^^^^  ^^^  called  to  his  cheek, 
anirtfc  said  within  herself, — ^*  I  shame  to 
go  forw£a|J-a8  the  sister  of  that  nlan^; — of  him 
who  can  tnus   wantonly  outrage  a  heart  so 
noble.     Yet  it  must  be  done."     And,  throw- 
ing back  the  rich  drapery  of  the  window, 
she  stept  6i4t,  and,  moving  softly  up  to  her 
brotheiy^e   laid  her  hand  Opon  his  arm; 
saying,  with  a  winning  smile,  as  he  turned 
towards^her,-—"  Henry,  this   must  not  be. 
I  knew  no^;  before  of  this  matter,  but,  from 
what  hath  now  passed,  I  have  gathered  its 
whole  meaning.     My  brother,  this  man,  this 
Ipriest,  is  guiltless  before  God,  and  wouldst " 
Itljlju  have  his  innocent  blood  on  thy  soul?. 
[Forbid  it,  earth  and  heaven,  that  so  foul  a 
Istain   should    tarnish    the    soul   6f    Henry 
Jagnal ! "     — — ^~ — — — —    ■     ■     .■    ■■   ■. '  /  . 
seal,  and  H    There  w^s  something  so  elevated,  so  spir- 


/.'.' 


»<s| 


■.\':^::.-J 


76 


RED   HAND  OF   TJiaTER. 


itual,  in  the  expression  of  Arabella's  face,  and 
her  cheek  glowed  with  bo  deep  a  crimson, 
^denotinglhe  intensity  with  which  she  felt, 
that  even  her  brother,  hard,  and  cold,"  and 
*Boulle88  as  he  was,  could  not  bring  himself 
t6  refuse  her  at  once,  while  0*Neill  stood  a? 
though  transfixed  by  the  radiant  vision  which 
had  broke  so  suddenly  on  his  sight.  Her 
words,  too,  and  the  rich,  deep  mii^.^of  her 
voice,  would  have  excited  his  admiration, 
even  had  not  her  beauty  been  of  the  very 
highest  order. 

«*  Nay,  nay,  Arabella,'*  said  her  brother, 
after  a  moment's  silence,  thou  speakest  like 
a  fool.  I  cannot,  if  I  would,  pardon  this 
man.  The  commands  of  her  majesty  must 
be   obeyed,  and  they  are   J^ositiye   on   this 

head."  1 

The  bright   glow   faded  Spm   Arabella's 

face^  and   her    beautiful   eyes  were,  on  the 

instant,  suffused  with^ars.     Turning  quickly 

to  the   astonished,  ^nd    almost   spell-bound 

earl,  she  said,~^'My  lord  of  Tyrone,  here  is 

no  hope.     After  having  refused  me,  his  only 

sister,   Sir  ^nry  Bagnal   mayN^  Jeemed 


■j  -  ;.  :    P- 


I9k>- 


BED  HAND  OP   ULSTER. 


n 


immovable  in  his  resolution.  Would  that 
this  might  lessen,  in  sbme  degree,  the  dis-' 
appointm6nt  which  your   lordship   must  of 

necessity  feel. 

The   earl    bowed  low    to    the  beautiful 
speaker,   and    said,    with   all   that  winning  : 
grace  which  characterised  him, — "  Lady,  I 
speak  not  now   of  disappointment.     I  have 
done  for  mine  honored  friend  more — a  thou- 
sand times-^than'I  would  do  for  myself.     I 
must,  therefore,  bear   this   heavy   stroke  as 
best  I  can  ;  but  what  shall  I  say  to  thee,  or 
how  thank  thee  for  thy  generous  mediation  ^ 
Assure  thyself,  however,  that  its  being  unsuc- 
cessful in  no  respect  lessens  my  gratitude. 
Lady,    farewell;    and   may  Heaven  requite 
thee  ! "     And,  without  vouchsafing  even  to 
look  at  Bagnal,  he   was   quitting  the  room 
when  the   marshal   said   aloud,  with  bitter 

■irony:   -■  ■■^■/■''/-  ,  ■  ■•■•■:■/■.■;■.      ;    \/  ■■■■■^''r- 

*«  What  a  pass  things  have  come  to  wheti 

a  double   dignitary— an  Irish  chi^f  and  an 

English  earl,  cannot  obtain  so  small  a  boon 

as  the  life  of  a  misbrable  popish  priest." 

0*Neill  turned  quickly  on  his  heel,  and 


•» 

-^ 

t                                      "                           ,                   ■ 

o 

• 

/" 

.''■ 

'• 

(1 

* 

- 

L  ' 

..;        '"■  '    , 

• 

w 


■I 


'■><S 


78 


RED   HAND   OP   ULSTER, 


his   glante  of  withering  scorn  fell   on  the 
heartless  marshal,  hut  the  words  which  ros^ 
to  his  lips  were  arrested   there  by  the  sight 
of  Arabella's  pale  cpuntenande,  as  she  stood, 
l|ke   some    beautiful    siatuej;  clos^    by   her 
brother's  seat.     He  met  her  look  of  melan- 
choly interest,  and  he  merely  said,  in  reply 
to  the  taunt;  «  It  is  well^  most  gener6\is  and 
noble  t  marshal.     The  pi^^^^^        of  that  tute- 
lary ahgel  forbids  .me  to  speaki  as  I  ought  to 
-do."     And  he  was  gone  before  Bagnal  had 
'  made  up  his^mind  for  a  further  sarcasm. 
"     That  nighty  while  thef  earl  was  debating 
with  himself,  whether  he  should  not  attempt 
to  force  the  prison  doors,   and  resent  0e^ 
priest,  or  if  it  might  not  be  a  hettei^plan  to 
wait  the  time  appointed,  for  the  execution^ 
which  >^as  to  b^  public,  and  then,  by  a;  des- 
perate charge,  ^aitt  possession  of  the  prisoqer, 
and  fight  his  Way  out  with  hieVtrodp^  the 
door  of  Father  MoJ^ama^a's  cell^w^^jp^ni^ 
softly, -and  Arabella  Bagnal  ei|i 
it  oarefMly  behind  her,    ^The  ||«  was  sdt^ 
ting,  on  .a  stonfe  "bench,  with  his-"^^  fbMedi^S 
on  his^^  bosom,  and  looking  as  calm  &s  tholig^ 


•  »■  »'• , 


>  J  * 


' ,  -' 


■f.-f>'   i 


i4- 


BBD  HA:ifD  OF  /ULSTSkl' 


79 


.    in  perfect  ease  and  security..    Not  a  glimpse'   . 
of  light  found   adn^issiori  to   the  cell,  but 
Arabella  carried  a  small  dark,  lantern,  which 
she  set  on  the  floor,  with  jtts  light  failing  on  ' 
the  prisoner.  .  "       '  .  '   . 

**  My  good  father,"  said  the  lady^  in  a  ^ 
respectful  tone,  "1  am  come  to  set  thee^pe ; 
.  go  hence,  in  God's  n'ame,"  an^say  to  the  E^l 
of  Tyrone,  that  an  English  mamen  haf h  sav^d '  \ 
thy  life."  .  /     *         -  ^       : 

"  But,  lady,  or  ai^gei,  or  whatsoever ,  thou 
'    art,"  said  the  priest,  in  amasjement,  **  how  is 
this  lo  be  done  I     How  -  am  I  to  J)ass  my 
jailors  ?"  •      '  •  -         . 

"  The  thin^  is  easy  enough,"  replied  Am- " 
,  bella,  as  she  deposited-a  bundle  jat  his  feet, , 
,  "  there  is  but  one  sentry,  and  him  I  hjtve  had^ 
my  servant  ply  with  wine,  i\\l  he  is  fast  asleep.     . 
In  that  bundle  thou  wilt  find  thf^  uniform  g^ 
an  English  solc^ier,  so  that,  .if  any  of  our  peo- 
ple be  astij-,  at  this  hour,  diey  maj^  not  sus^^ 
pect  thee.     Here,  too,  is.  the  key  of  a  small  •    ' 
I     postern,  which,. at  the  bpttom  b{  thjs' street, 
leads  to  the  x)pen  country^  and,  once  there,  ' 
thou  canst,-ere  day  d^wns,  be  far  Jbeyond  the 


•tmti^iifm'ifmt't 


>.!«*|« 


80 


BED   HAND   OF   tTLSTER. 


'% 


reach  of  danger.     I  shall  now  reftre,  till  thou, 
hast  donned  that  suit,  when  thou  canst  joiii 
me  at  the  outer  door."      And  she  hastened 
away,  without  waiting  for  an  answer.     In  a  ; 
few  minutes  the  priest    stood  beyond^  ^e   , 
prison  wall/ in  his  strange  disguise,  and  neait  ^ 
mni  the  mtiilled  figure  of  his  delivereiv" 


m 


f^^ 


**  Lady  I  "  he  said,  in  a  low^  cautious 
whisper,  "I  ask  not  who  thou  art,  but  pe. 
God  to  whose  seryice  I  am  consecrated, 
knoweth,  and  will^reward  thee.  To  Ms 
keeping  I  commit  thee,  and  no  day  shall  pis 
duidng  the  remnant- of  my  life,  without  niy 
prayers  being  offered  up  for  thy  spiritual  and 
temporal  happiness!"  y 

'i'D'o  as  thou  sayest,"  said  Arabella,  in  the 
■  same  low  tone,   "and  for  niy-  name,  the 
G'Neill>  win    tell    thee   who   %6   pray   fpr. 
Farewell ;  the  liioon  is  about  to  rise,  and  thou 
.  hast  need  to  set  forth  quickly."     She  was 
;,  ^vihg  away,  >hon  the  priest  requested  her  ' 
toy^tay ^  yet  a .  moment  while  he  J^^^  onp 
^qu^stion.    ^jr .  ,-  /         ^    :     ■      * 

"Speak, is^her^  what wouldst iliott know ? " 
i:ji^^«  Thou  hast  twice  madei  i^ention   of  ii 


^f.yj 


#/■ 


^     KKD  HAND  OF  VIMTZU, 


81 


lA' 


"*/:: 


mm^  which,  more  than  most  names,  I  honor  t 
Isi^ows  he  of  my  captivity  ?*%       : 

f*  Yes,  yes,  but  he  will   tell    thee    alf 
him^elfc  go  noyv.**  ^ 
.  "Another  word,   kdy,  dost    thoi^   then 

"Before    this    evening    I    would    tap?e^ 

#  aBsweredNo;  nowmethinks  I  do,  and  moire; 

•  WX  know  him  for  what  he  is !  " 
"Then,  lady,  receive  niy  assurMicI,  that 

Ireland  doth  not  contain   one   nob^- — oae 
more  lofty-minded  than  he ! "  t 

"I  believe  it,  fajther,  I  believe  it,  '  «aid 
Arabella,  with  som^  ei|i6tibn,  **  but  mx  thin* 
own  sake,  I  will  not  taVy  a  second '^longer. 
Farewell ;  remember  thy  p/omise."  -        , 

;■ "  pil  deatl},  lady,  so  GodJ)e  thy  |uide." 
The  xords  w»r0  scarcely  uttered  wl^m  !Ar** 
bella'dai'te4  away  down  an  adjacent  alley, 
apd  was  losi  to  view  iti  the  thick  darkness.  _ 

O'Neill  had^kept  his  men  undfer  /slrms  fof 
^  the  best  part  of  |;he  night,  fat  -§  public  host* 
i   mry,  ani  the  dawn^  fed  not  yet  appeared 
when  the  troop  st(|od  rfady  for  march.     The 
earl  had  not  yet  given  the  order  to  set  fsrth/ 


/ 


-.4 


%■ 


■PUMMwa 


/^ 


%% 


RfiD   HAND   OF   ULSTER; 


■  .:■  .  *■ 


^4^  when  8k  mounted  express  came  from  Bagnal, 

requesting,  in  terms  more  like  command,  that 

t|^  Earl  of  Tyrone  would  await  the  mar- 

^^  shal's  coming,  as  something  of  importance 

"^ was  to  be  treated  of  between  them.     Jiittle 

aaO^eilt  felt  disposed  to  hold  farther  con 


j^nce  with  a  man  who  gloried  in  shewing 
his;  animosity  toward^  him,  yet  he  thought  it 
best  to  Qomply,  as  the  matter  referred  to 
might  possibly  concern  the  priest.      In  the 
course  of  ^n  hour,  Bagnal  rode  up,  aqcompar 
iiied   by  an   officer   pnl^,   and  imperiously 
called  for  the  Earl  of  Tyrone.     The  latter 
was  not  slow  {%  making  his  appejarance,  and^ 
when  he  stood  before  the  marshd,  the^  latter 
surveyed  him  for  <a-  moment  in  silence,   (it 
was  then  clear  daylight,)  his;  brow  cdhtracted 
by  a  dark  frown.     Seeing  that  his  scrutiny 
called   forth   no  unwonted  emotion  in   the 
earl's  countenance*,  he  brojje  out  into  a.  fierce 
adjusation,  threaftenihg  him  with  all  manner 
of  severe  punishment  on ,  the  part   of  the 
queeS.      O'Neill  listened    with    unfeigned 
amazement,  and' when  the  furious  marshal 
paused,  from  want  of  breath,  he  said;,  with  a 


;i  " 


.  ** 


;  V  'A-  . 


,.  % 


^  -,  VBD  HAND  OF  ULSTER.  SS 

quiet  mgiiitywhiohwarked  his  vast'  superi- 
^ority  ovqr  the  oth^r,  **  As  I  am  altogether  at 
aioss  for  the  cause  of  this  last  attack,  I  must 
6n4y  suppose  that  Sir  Henry  Bagnal ,  has 
'  paid  toe  this  early  visit  by  way  of  ^xowning 
his  coulrtly/  hospitality )  of  yester-evening. 
Perhaps  th^u,  sir,  canst  give  me  soii^  more 
rational  explanation  ?  "  And  he  turned  with 
a  bow  to  the  officer,  i^ho  was  about  to  speak 
in  reply, .  when   pagnal   angrily  interposed 


with-i- 


■Vv 


■■  *f  Leave  ohini  to  kne,  Fetherstone  !^— leave 
him  to  me.  Now,:  O'Neiln  or  tiird  Tyrone, 
or  whatever  thou'  art^"  he  said  with  much 
politeness,  "  wilt  itihou;  even  thou,  attempt 
to  deny  that  it  was  through  thine  'agency 
this  accursed  priest  escaped  last  night  ?*^    : 

O'Neiir  caught  eagerly^  at  his  last  Words ; 
**  How   sayesC    thou,    Siir    Henry^has  he 

■^ indeed  escaped ■r"y^r-''-r--':'--jh:-'^''^^^^^ 
;*^**0h,  perchance  thilnj  wert  ignorant  hi  it 

'  t^en^'V        Bagnal:iroiacaJ|y;  <^thoi:^  woujdst  ^ 
"hav^  uis  believe  thee  so^^  least.'* 
-"  «*  Sir  Heiiry  Ba^nal  P'  said  5!^i^oti^>  wit 
earnest  8oletidmty>  **^'I- will  not  attempt  to 


-,<* 


.•v.H 


ipe  of 
re  thee 


•  1 


14 


ti: 


.  -J- 


84  RED'  HAND  OP  tJL^T|>«L. . 

conceal  that^  I.  am  rejbiced  at  the 
this  holy  man,  bttt  I  do  solemnly  9^ 
that  I  know  nelihei^  act  nor  J|)art  of  how  it 
w^  e^^        May  VQ^d  ifequit^  whoever 
,  Jw^  a  Hand  init/^h       believe  it/  or  not  as 
H^eemeth  good  to^thee^  I  can  t^       say  that  /^^ 
it  was  neither  by  contrivance  iior  deed  bi 

■   •    Baghai  wowld  have  once  mop  broken  out 
^  into  a  torrent  of  abuse,  but  hfe  compai^n, 
.wis^r  ki^t'^niore   sagacious  than;  he,  judi- 
ciously int<Kc|)bsedtT-**  My  j4rd  of  Tyrone!  !' 
it  is  not  i()r  im^toL^onbt  t 
and  thjough  it  did  seem  %u8^|»^obable^^^t^    ) 
tho^— -with  thy  Tollowers  -Being  in  town,-^ 
'  thouiiad8t^iE%(i(&d  it  thy  duty  to  e^ct  the 
priest's' Kbeyjflt^    ;  yet  n0W  we  caii  think  so  : 
no  longer^;  seeing  that  thy  woi*d  is  pledged 
,tO  the  .<?ontraryi^^  jCpm,^i  Sir  S^^ti^     it  is 

*  iiseiess  to    tarify  iongfer    here'}-    d^^ 
:^lo€4ced  so  signiftcantl|;fat  <^^ 

$he  latter,  however  iixi^illinglyj^  turnet^ a;wuy- 
.'  with  him.  ^J^Theybtad^^^^^^  little  way 

•  when  f*elierstone  was  seen^o  le^ri  over  ill 
r  liis  (^dfei  md  whisper  somet|iipg  to^^B^^n^ 


-/'■: 


"  IIB&'  B^^D  OF  ULSTER. 

<  v.*;  ..■.■■■■* 

■■'-■■'  ■-''■■■  '  ■  ■     ;      -"."■■     •      .  ■  ■■'  ■■.■  .         •         ■  . 

i^iiichhad  tlie  effect  of  urging  him  on,  and 
both  rode  away  at  a  rapid  pace.f  The  pur- 
port of  this  suggestion  was  soon  after  under- 
stood, for  although  (J'Neill  lost  no  time  in 
quitting  the  tpwn,  he  had  barely  got*  few 
miles  on  his  journey  home,  when  'a  large 
body  of  English  cavalry  barred  his  progress. 
Its  officer,  coming  forward,  told  the  earl  that 
he  "was  instructed  to  examine  each  of  his 
.  men,  lest  the  priest  might  be  among  them 
in    disguise,   and    lie   drew  oitt   a   Written 
'  description  of  Father  McNs^mara.     Not  at 
ail  surprised   at  this  fresh   insult,  O'Neill 
^i:dered  his, .  meii  to  halt,'  but  they,  when 
they  understood  the  intentions  of  the  officer, 
-declared  to  a  man  that  they  would  not  sub- 
mit to  such  a  scrutiny.     Tim  t^A  was  posi- 
tvve^  h'oWever,  in  his*  commands,  and   the 
investigation  took  place,  much  to  the  annoy- 
''  ance  and  irritation  of  the  warlike  ,  clans-ihen 
of  Tyr-owen,  who  murmured  all  the  -  while, 
I   and  could  not- refrain  from  saying  that  such 
submission   was   degrading   to    them,   with 
\arms  in  their^-Jiands.     At  length,  the  officer 
#as  i^tisfi^d  that  the^  priest  ipas  not  amongst 


>r 


I  -u 


/t 


'  ■    { 


■:H, 


■ 


M 


■<•  ■  )■ 


86 


RED   HAND  OF   tJLBTER. 


.■  •  ■,••■,;  ■.■,.■;  •   V.  ■;■:■ .  ,,:    „.^.!v.  i. ,-:-■■■■■■■. ,  ■'  .-r 

the  troopers,  and- so,  pocketirig  hi^  paper,  he 

bowed  civilly  to  the  earl,  witih  a  sort  of  half- 
apology.  The  6arl  bowed  politelj^  in  return, 
merely  sayiijg::  '''^'■■■'..  ''  '':  v-fr':/--  ;•    !■:' 

'  '^Crreet  Sir  Heni^  Bagna^/well  from  me, 
mndv^say^  that  imiay  one  da5|  have  it  in  my 
power  to  thank  hirii  for  all  his  courtesy . 
On,  men,  on!"  And,  turiii»g  his  back  oii 
the  English  troop,  he  rode  away,  followed  by 
his  flien  at  a  brisk  trot,    i    ^  m^ 

Oh  the   follpwing  day^^^O  had  the 

Satisfaction  of  wMcoming  bsick  His  chaplain. 
'^^  A  thoijsand  Welcomes,'*  he  paitl,  "my  deajc 
and  revered  fiiehd";  tr^uly  thine  rescapefs 
filparcely  less  miTaoulous  than  was  that  of  the 
y^ng  prophet  fl-om  the  lion's  den,  or  the 
three  children  iVo^  the  flaming  furnace. 
But,  I  prajr  thee;  tell  ine  hoiv  it  happened ; 
for,  thougfe^  (1  was  more  than  suspected  of 
h^ing  had  a  hand  in  thy  liberation,  I  need 
hardly  tell  thee  that  I  was  not  so  fortunate." 

la  rej)ly,' Father  McNamara  related  the 
mannisr  of  his  escape,^nding  with  the  mes- 
sage of  the  lady,  V  whose  name,"  said  he,  "  I 
know-BOt^  but  I  iay  t]^ul^call  her  the  angel 

- — ^ — ^ — La 


IIP 


-«fit 


:i 


f  iflED  HAND  OF  ULSTER.  3t 

J>f  my  ^eliveranceV  and,  of  a  truth,  her  coun- 
tenanee,  s^en  by  tKe  dim  light  of  her  lan- 
tli6rn,wa8  fau^  enough  to  have  belonged  to^ 
in  angel,  l^y*  thou  dost  «mile,  my  lord  ; 
:anct  thinkest  peradventure  thatan  old  priest 
-ttlio  great  judge  of  these  matters,  especially 
when  his  eyes  were  daz^d  bjr  his  gratitude  i 
fbr^  the  damsel's  gen  Wis  and  timely  aid; 
But  I  tellthee,  earl,  that  this  lady a|y  bene, 
factress,  is:  <rf    singularly  noble  aS|<lovely 

-aspect..';     '■■•:>■■    •/;■:;;.-■  '  ■:;  v   ; 

'  «*  I  know  what  thou  sayest  is  true^  my  good 
father,  and!"  ^id  but'  smile  at  the  lady's  refer- 
ring thee  to  me,  who  bsl^  Hor  Wt  once.  • 
That  bnc€f,  ■  however,  gave  me  enough  of 
insight  into  her  character  to  lessen  the  sur- 
prise W/hich  I  might  feelon  hearing fctis  story 
t)fthi^e.  That  lady,  then,  who  hath  such 
claim^  on  thy  good  offices,  is  none  other  tiian 
the  sister  of  the  tyrannical  n^ipers^ciiting 
Bagnal^— the  lady  Arabella  " 
•  On  hearing  this  announceinefHimiie 
priest  could  not  sufficiently  eixnifes^^ 
ration;  and  the  outpourings  otTife^pitude 
wer^  only  cut  short  by  the  earl,  ^ho  -saia. 


■■  •  -  ■ 
■ ' « 


'    A 


•  :     ■.     -P- 


w 


j 


S 


8fir 


HAND  OP  tLSTER. 


rather  shortly;— ^*  Thia  is  nil  very  well, 
father,  and,  in  God's  name,  do  all  thou  canst 
for  Her,  pray,  an'  thou  wilt,  that  she  may 
receive  the  divine  gift  of  faith;  biit,  I  pray 
thecj,  keep  the  ma^er  to  thyself  for  the  time 
'  And  he  quickly  changed  the  con- 
m,  with  an  air  as  though  he  would 
noe^piave  the  thenie  brought  on  again. 
Although  the  priest  was  somewhat  surprised 
by  a  rebuff  so  uncharacteristic  of  thp  courtly 
earl,  he  hadt  far  too  much  respect  for  his 
judgment, liot. to  acquiesce  at  once;  and  with 
cheerful  ease  ^  glided  into  the  subject 
brought  forward,  as  though  himself  had 
chosen  it.       ^    v 

Next  day,  Father  MpNamara  went,  at  the 
^rl's  request,  to  Dungiven  Cdstle,  to  see  the 
young  Con.  O'Neill,  and,  erefne  returned,  a 
stranger  arrived  at  Ijungannon^^  who,  on  being 
introduced  ,to  the  presence  of  d*$I^ill,' proved 
to  be  the  identical  servant  of  Arabella,  who 

:.     ■  ■         ■        ■'ST*-  '."■'.■ 

-had  be|n  employed  to  lull  the  jailer  to  for- 
getfulness  by  his  friendly  draught.  ^  He  was 
the  bearer  of  a  letter  to  Tyrone,  in  which 
Arabella  informed  the  „eatl  that^  on  the  jail 


^» 


;  , 


\ 


BED   HAND   OP   ULSTER. 


er^i  Story  being  heard,  Ne^^^ry  was  no  longer 
a  sftfe  residence  for  her  faithful   Henderson, 
whom  she  therefore  begged  to  recommend 
to    his   service.     The    fair    writer    merely 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  good  father  had 
reached  Dungannon  in  safety,  but  never-  made^ 
the  slightest  allusion  to  her  own  share  in  his 
escape.     Jn  conclusion,  she  gave  the  earl  a 
certain   caution    touching    his  own    affairs, 
charging  him,  as  he  valued  his  dearest  hopes, 
to  attend  to  the  warning.     In  all  else,  the 
letter  was  so  cold  and   reserved  in  its  tone,^ 
that  it  seemed  hard  to  reconcile  it  with  the 
idea  previously  formed  of  Arabella's  charac- 
t(Br.     Whatever  might  have   been  O^NeiU's 
opinion  of  the  ^ady,  her  request  was  scrupu- 
lously complied  with,   and  Henderson  was 
appointed  at^nce  to  an  oilice  of  trust  in  the 
earl's  hoiijsehold.  S 

Whe^^he  priest  returned,  Tyrone  placed 
thele^  in  his  hand,  and  merely  saying, 
"Tho)i  seest  she  will  not  siiffer  herself  to  be 
ifo^otten,  since  here  is  a  fr^  proof  of  her 
^c^drwill.  Somesuch  warnirig^as  that  given 
acme  months  ago  might  have  saved  me  much 


'./ 


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1653  Eost  Main  Stre«t 

Rochester,  N«W  York       14609.  USA 

(716)  482  ^.0300 -Phone      *f  T 

(716)  288 -5989 -Fox         7  j 


/ 


r 


■t-r 


90' 


BED   ]»AND   OF    ULS|fiR/ 


til 


trouble,  as  thou  wilt  speedily  »ee.     But  '  bet- 
ter late  than  never  ! '  "     So  he  walked  awav, 

*■  '      ,  ■  -' 

leaving  the  priest  to  decipher,  at  his  leisure, 
-the  small,  fair  characters  so  lately  penned  by 
his  benefactress.,  .^^^    :   ^ 

It  was  riot  long  till  the  English  servant  of 
Tyrone  became  a  general*-  favorite  in  the 
household.  EVer  ready  to  obey  the  orders 
of'his  lt)rd,ai^d  lady,  arid  even  to  anticipate 
their  wishes,  he  deservedly  stood  high  in 
their  favor,^  while  with  his  fellow  servants 
he  was  sol  obliging,  so  good-natured,  and, 
above  all,  so  good  a  listener  to  their  tales  of 
ghost,  and  witch,  and  fairy,  (that  is,  when, 
they  could  tell  them  in  English,)  that  he 
was  declared  by  all  an  irivaluable  acquisition 
in  the  family.  He  had  not  been  many  weeks 
in  the  castle  of  Dungannon  when  he  obtained 
a^  halff  confession  from  Teague  OUrlagan, 
touching  the  wise  woman  ;  for  Teague  h^d 
been  woridrously  annoyed  by  Hendersori^s 
incredulity  on  the  subject  of  the.  mysterious 
woman's  power,  and  intimate  acquaintance 
with  things  past,  present,  arid  to  come.  So, 
in  order  to  convince  his  new  friend,  honest 


KBD   HAND   OF   ULSTEE* 


91 


league  gave  so  many  strong  Tiints  regarding 
that   affair,"  that,  coupling    one  thing  witji; 
another,  namely,  some  fiicts  already  in  his 
•own  possession  with  this  partial  revelation  of 
O'Hagan.   Henderson    quickly   saw   to    the 
bottom  of  the  whole,  and  laid  by  his  acquired 
knowledge  for  ise.     One  nighty  when  they 
|ll,  to  the  number  of  a  score,  were  seated  in 
1  wide  circle  around  the  huge  earth,  Hender- 
ison  horrified  them  all  by  a  profane  wish  that 
he   might   be  permitted  to   lay  eyes  on  an 
Irish  ghost,  or  fkiry.     A  mumur  of  horror 
ran  round  the  assembly,  those  who  ^  not  . 
understand  Ins  English  eagerly  askitfg  mfor-  ' 
mation  from  their  fellows,  whereupon  there 
was  heard  on   every   side  exclamations    of 
"Christ,  save  us !""  Lofd,  bless  usl"— 
<*^What  ivis  to  be  a  heretic  !""  Gh  then, 
listen  to  that,  all  of  ye !"   and  such  like. 
But  HenUerson  only  related  his  remark, 
requesting   any  amongst   them   who  might 
have   a   supernatural    visit,    if  possible,   to 
introduce  him  to  the  visitor.     All  drew  their 
s^ats  closer  together,  and  each  looked  shud- 
deringly  over  his  or  her  shoulder^  but  none. 


•1 


M 


■M- 


92 


B.ij)   HAND   OX 


■N-  ■ 
tJMTER. 


y. 


■i' 


ventured  to  -reply.     At  liist,  Henderson  was 
summoned   to   attend    hisvlord,  and,   whi 
near  the  door,  he  turned  om  his  heel,  saying 
with  a  laugh,  **  Now  mind,  every  one  of  yi 
what  I  have  said  !  "     "  Theii  by  the  gravi| 
of  St.  Patrick,"  cried  Brian  U'Ha'gan,.aftei 
him,  "but  thou  mayest  be,  after  all,  jiist^^a^ 
^  much  afraid  as  another,  and  t  pray  Heavei 
this  night  that  somethings JB^  catch  thee  erel 
thou  hast   gone   a   dozeji^fSceai  bevond  the! 

For  about  a  Wj^ek  all  went  oW  quietly  in 
the  castle,  and  "^still ,  Henderspn  had  no 
opportunity  to  test  his  courage  on  the  brings 
of  air.  It  chanced,  however,  tl  at  the  earl- 
•invited  several  of  the  cpnfederate  chiefs  to  a 
banquet j  and  just  when  the  laugh  a-nd  song 
were  loudest,  and  the  harps  .rang- joyously 
and  triumphantly  beneath  the  niagic  touch, 
of  the  bards,  then  there  was  suddenly  heard 
over  all  a  wild,  unearthly  w^il  uhat  echoed 
from  hall  to  hall,  and  instantly  t  lie  voice  of 
gladness  and  of  mirth  was  hushed.  A.  dead 
silence  fell  on  the  assembled  compianyj  for 
•*'the  bravest  and  the  gayest  there  was  cmlled. 


RED   HAN 


\W 


ULSTER. 

J" 


93 


^^ 


and,  as  ifc  were,  spell-bound,  by  that  fearful, 
voice.  But  it  went  on--around  and  around 
the  house  it  seemed  to  go,  as  -though  floating 
9n  the  still  night  air.  Even'  the  earl  him- 
ielf  was,  for  a  moment,  struck  dumb  with 
amazement,  if  not  with  fear,  and  before  he 
had  spokeiL  a  word,  a  whole  tropp  of  the  , 
servants  rushed  in,  pale  wi^h  terror,  and 
soarcely  one  amongst  them  able  to  articulate 

■a-word.-.  ',       -  n  *   .; 

"What   is   all  this?"    said   the   earl,   at 

length,  "why* break  ye  in  after  this  uncouth 

iashioh?"    r- 
«  Oh,  my  lord ! '*  cried  Phelini;  speaking 
with  difficulty,  "don*t  ye  all  hear  it  as  well' 
as  us  ?-^K)ch,  sure  it  ■  s  the  JBansheie— God  be 
good  to ^^1". Mil  and  there 's  death  over  the 
house   of  O'Neill  ai  sure   as   my  name 's 

'^Pheliml"  .■■■.■  -.^"^<C^-  ■., .  ■^V-;::.:-'----;:\\-:-: 

u  What   sayest    thou,    iPhelim  ?  "    asked 
3nderson,  suddenly  coming  forward,  from 
another  '  part    of  .  the    hall  —  "Is    that    a 


Bashee  ?  ** 


ji^**» 


'^'An*  what*  else  would  it  be  ?  "  retorted 
Phelim,  snappishly,  what  else  would  it  be 


:i'^--'- 


■  / 


RED  HAND   OF 


94 


but  the  Banshee?,  an*  it  *9  thanktCK  we  may 
J)e  that  it  isn't  worse,  an'.its  bad  ei;^ough 

er  all  that  passed  the  other  night.'* 
And  did  any  of  ye  see  her  ?  "  inquired 
Henderson,  without  noticing  the  latter  part 
of  hi8\  remark. 

"Sije  here,'*  said  TeagUe,  now  speaking 
out,  ray,  you  may  say  we  did,  for  myself 
saw  ner  with  ihy  eyes,  an'  till  the  day  of  my  , 
de^ih  I  '11  never  get  over  the  sight,  oqjipne ! " 
Still  the  unearthly  cry  was  heard,  accompa- 
nied, at  times,  by  that  clapping  of  the  hands 
which  usually  acQomipanies,  even  now,  the 
voice  of  the  keene^.  -Ihe  affrighted  servants 
made  theiiv  way  farther  into  the  room,  and 
the  guests  thepisel v^s  seemed  well-nigh  as 
^fearful.  The  countess,  yhere  she  sat  by  her 
lord,  and  his  young  sist^,  who  Was  seated 
neiar  her,  both  clung  trembliiig  to  O'Neill, 
who  Was,  oU  his  part,  thoroughly  ashamed 
of  his  weakness,  though  it  was  little  .more 
Jthaa :  Xnomentary.  He  was  endeavoring  to 
reassure  the  ladies,  and  had  just  proposed  to 
go  look  after  the  cause  of  this  singular  dis- 


turbance,  wh6n  the   cry  was   heard   again> 


:■  '•>» 


r-.^:^^^:. 


'^' 


KED  HAND   OF   utSTER. 


•'•v- 


■  -.f. 


m 


just  at  the  ioot  of  tjie  hall  whiLh  stood^half 
open.     It  was  in«tantly  followed  by  a  louder 
shout  of  exultation  in  a  different  Toice,  then 
a  torrent  pf  wigry  words  intermingled  with 
horrible   impreeations,— every .  one    present 
started  up  and  all  eyes  were  turned  in  the 
direction  of  the  door.     The  earl  vainly  tried 
to  shake  off  the  convulsive  grasp  of  his  wife 
sister,  and  sat  down  again  in  complianfce 
wit^heir  half-frenzied  entreaties,  when,  lo ! 
the   d^r   was  thrown  violently  open,  and 
Hendersbn  was  seen  dragging  aloiig,  by  the 
back  of  thesneck,  a  kicking,  str^uggling  female 
of  dirainutivexheight,  from  whose  mouth  was 
poured  forth  that  torrent  of  abuse  which  had  ' 
reached  this  ears  \f  the  company.     Hender- 
son was  not  scathle&s,  for  various  parts  of  his 
garments  were  rent  Xnd  torn,  and  his  face 
was  literdly  covered  %ith  blood  from  the 
scratches  inflicted  by  the  nails  bf'^the  fierce 

•  creature.    ■      •. ;  ;:.:■;:  .      '••  '  A^*^;.  .  .-'.■■■■  .' 

"  Why,  in    God'?   name, xljenderson ! *' ;. 
cried  the   earl,   "who  or   what  hast  thou 
■  -therei"- '^  ■■-:.;/-  ■  ■■-^;:-H;    ■.^■■'■y,  '■  ;  A^        ^  \^: 
The  Banshee,  my  lord,"  retur^d  lien'.' 


%■ 


'Hmm 


9SH 


4    1 


96 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTEB. 


dersion,  though  he  could  scarcely  utter^  word^ 
from  the  violent  exertions  he  was  obli|^ed  to 
make^Q  retain  his  l^ld-^"  Any  of  thib  noble 
company4hat  wants  to  see  a  spirit  cm  have 
a  look  for  nothing^     Look  at  her/^y  good 
lord,  what  a  beauty  she  is!  "  and  jdbt  then, 
having  reached  where  the  earl  sat,  hef  forcibly  , 
popped  her  down  on  the  marble  flfoor,  in  a 
sitting  posture,  holding  her  two  amis  Behind. 
"Why,  truth  to  tell,"  said  O'Neill,  "the 
'creature  is  attired  after  the  fashion  of  Ban- 
shees,   as   everywhere    described,    but,   for 
mercy^  tell  us,  Henderson,  how  thou  didst 

catch  her."    ^ 

«  Ha,  ha,  my  lord,"  laughed  Henderson, 


^whiie  old  and  young  crowded  around  to 
"look  at  the  miserable  being,  who  had  left  off 
her  horrible  yelling,  but  still  struggled  to  free 
herself,  «  ha,  ha,  iaith,  I  might  have  hunted 
her  till  doomsday,  around  the  house,  but 
running  that  game  was  n't  the  thing  for  her 
purpose,  the  she-devil !  and  so  she  ventured 
up  too  near  the  door,  so  as  to  get  a  go9d  p^p: 
at  the  noble  company,  and  as  soon  as  she 


thrust  her  ugly  visage  inside  the  great  door. 


'   ^^ 


TIED   HAND   OF   ULSTER; 


97 


I  ju8t  nabhed  her  by  the  nape  of  the  neclc, 
for  your  lordship  must  know  that  J  expected 
what  she  'd  do,  and  so  planted  myself  inside 
the  door.  But,  hallo  there,  all  of  ye  trem* 
bling  creatures  in  the  cprner  —  come  over 
here  and  take  a  look  at  "your  great  fortune- 
teller. Come  here,  Teague  G'Hagan,  and 
Brian,  and  all  the  rest,  and  mayhap  she  '11  tell 
your  fortunes  cheap." 

But  the  persons  thus  addressed,  s^^g  the 

4um  matters  had  taken^  were  already  esf  aping 

from  the  hall,  and,  «8o  far  from  obeving  the 

summons,  they  scampered  off  as  fcist/  as  their 

limbs  would  carry  them. 

"  And  now,  most  noblel  earl,"  feid  Hen^ 
derson,  **an'  your  lordship  will  mease  to 
have  her  tied  and  locked  vm,  it  will  be  doing 
thine  own  self  a  good  service." 

^. "  How ! "  said  the  earl,  in  utter  aston- 
ishmentj  and  starting  /as  a  strange  idea 
crossed  his  mind,  f '  how,  I^endersoii  ?  Is  she, 
tfen.  ?" 


"A  strangeTr    found /  prowling    around^ 
Under  a  suspicious   appearance,"    returned 


i>i 


Henderson j  pointedly. 


•  /  ■ 
■■•/■ 


m 


'bed   hand   of  ULSTER. 


.♦f"--V 


"  Ha !  is  it  even  so  ?  it  is  well,  Henclerson ; 
I  thank  thee ;  she  shall  be  attended  to  as  the 
case  requires."       ~- 

**  Doubtless,  thou  dost  thank  him,  an'  the 
great  devil  thank  him,  say  I,  for  a  foul- 
mouthed  knave,  as  hq  is."  The  voice  in 
which  the  wretched  hag  uttered  this  impre- 
cation made  the  very  stoutest  heart  to  quake, 
but  Tyrone  sternly  commanded  her  to  be 
silent,  and  ordered  her  to  be  instantly 
conveyed  to  pnson. 

"  An'  thou  wilt,  thou  double-faced  traitor, 
cried  the  beldame,  in  defiance  of  the  injunc- 
tion, *^but,  remember,  that  the  law  has  a  long 
arm,  and  it  will  reach  both  thee  and  this 
treacherous  rascal,  who  has  disgraS^dhis  Eng- 
lish blood,  by  taking  service  under    a  vile 

Irish  churl,  like  thee.". ;  ] 

"Seize  her,  men,  se^e  her  at  once  ["said 
the  earl,  to  the  men,^ho  stood  ready,  "  and 
see  that  ^e  keep  her  Under  watch  and  ward, 
for  ye  shall  answer  tome  for  her  forthcoming. 
We  will  teach  her  to  play  the  spy  more 
successfully,  hereafter."  ^ 

The  ungainly  features  of  the  hag,  such  as 


HED    HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


91 


•they  have  been  described  in  a  formei^chapterL 
were  literally  conyulsed  with  rage,  hVr  eyei 
glaring  like  those  of  a  tiger,  and,  as  th^  mei 
kid  hold  of,  and  fbrced^eac  away,  "she  waj 
actually  frothing  at  the  mouth,  Awhile,  in  he| 
efforts   to   shake   them   off,'  she  put  forth 
strength,  which,  they  said,  must  come  froi 
the  devil,  sint'e  it  could  not  be  natural  to  hei 
deformed  frame.  ^ 

Her  removal  gave  a  sensible  relief  to  all 
present,  and  n0w,  that  her  real  character  wasl 
explained,  |fi|0ther  with  the  object  of  her 
disguise,  the  affair  served  but  as  a  good  joke, 
id  increase  the  mirth  of  the  compaixyr2«»d 
loud  and  long,  was  the  laugh  at  the  capture  ' 
of  Bagnal's  respectable  agent.  It  need 
hardly  be  said  that  this  timely  discovery' of 
the  witch's  dangerous  imposture  was  the!*^ 
result  of  Arabella's  friendly  warnings  to*  b^ 

on  the  lookout  for  all  stispieious  strangpr$i 
KnowiH^  and  disdaining  her  brother's  base 
machinations,  she  had  takeih  this  method  of 
putting  O'Neill  on  his  guard.  The  earl,  as 
before,  lost  no  time  in  informing  Father 
MuNamara  of  this  last  instance .  of  the  lady 


100 


BID   IIANP   OF    ULSTER. 


Arabella's  greatness  of  mind,  but,  as  on  the 
former  occabion,  he  cut  short  all  further  cein- 
vcrse  on  the  subject,  by  abruptly  dismisbing  it. 

On  the  following  day,  when  the  guesti^ 
were  all  gone,  and  O'Neill  alone  with  his 
family,  he  ordered  tKe  witch  to  be  brought 
before  him,  and  tried  by  everV .means  in  his 
power  to  induce  her  to  confess  the  purpose 
for  which  she  had  been  sent  into  Tyr-owen, 
and  by  whom  sent.  When/  all  failed,  he 
gave  her  to  understand,  in  few  words,  that 
the  whole  disgraceful  plot,  and  its  author, 
■were  known  to  him.  "  But  t|eU  me,  once  for 
all,  unhappy  ^ woman,"  he  added,  "what 
could  induce  thee  to  pass  thyself  for  a  spirit. 
Were  there  not  other  more  practicable  meth- 
ods open  to  thee  whereby  to  carry  out  4hy 
purpose?" 

"  Ha !  ha  1 "  croaked  the  hag,  in  a  tone  of 
.diabolical  malice^  "my  voice  lied ^t  when  it 
foretold  death  in  thy  house,  and  ll  have  long 
ago  seen  the  death-spot  where  it  was  not  visible 
to  other  eye  than  mine.  Now  all  may  see 
it ;    look]  there,  Hugh  O'Neill,  and  see  if 


death  be  bot  liovering  at^ye;  there  rests  his 


11 


i  the      ^^^ 

\ 

con-       ^H 

\ 

uestr      ^1 

I  hir    nH 

ught       ^^1 

1  his        ^1 

rpose        ^1 

WCB,          H 

i,  he       fl 

« 

that       H 

thor,       H 

-■-. 

.e  for    '^^  ^^1 

what       ^^1 

\ 

pirit.       ^1 

neth-  ^    H 

t^hf      ■ 

le  of  ^^^^^^1 

len  it       ^M 

I- 

BED   HAND   OF   UI.8'j:ER. 


lo; 


■H,.« 


~    am 

shadow ! "  and  she  pointed   with  a  gfjn  ^ 
the  face  of  the  countess. 

O'Neill  turned  ahnost  involuntarily,  and  — 
for  the  first  time  he  became  aware  that  the 
chegk  of  Judith  had  of  late  lost  much,  nay, 
all  of  its   roundhess,   while   a   dark   circle 
around  cither  eye  gave  note  of  inward  dis- 
^ea8e.     Whether  it  was  that  the  words  of  the 
wi^ch   brought  a  deathlier  paleness   to  flfer 
cheek  and   lip,  or  that  she  really  was  far     ' 
gone  m,  some  wasting  sickness,  (perhaps  even 
to  herself  unknown,)  Judith  loolced  at  the   .^ 
C  moment  as  though  her  days  were  nufttered, 
and  the  earl  cried  out,  in  pitying  accents, 
"Why,  Judith!  can  the  wretched  hag  speak 
trjKh  ?  —  art    thou,    indeed,    suffering   from 
disease?*'  »     '     '  '  ■  4' 

1st  know  not,  Hugh,"  said  the  countess, 
"writh  a  languid  smile, ."  latterly,  I  have,  at 
times,  felt  as  though  something  unusual  were 
going  on  within  me,  but  I  h^ve  never  thought 
myself  in  any  danger."      "^V  X  ^ 

**But  the  Banshee  knew  better,  my  dainty 


madam,"   sneered   the   beldame;    "and   in 


return  for  her  warning  thou  canst  not  do  less 


t 


I 


102 


RED  ^LAND   OP   ULSTER, 


'■&-■ 


thaivengage  thy \ii8band  to  set  her  free.     It 

Vere  a  pity  to  keep  so  useful  .a  spirit  in 

thraldom^     Ha,>a,  h^l'!^ 

>*My  lord  knoweth  best  what  it  behooYeth  . 
him  to  do,"  answered  Judith,  meekly,  and^ 
the  earl,  catching  up  the  word,  went  on : 

'^And,  therefore,  woman,  I  will  send  thee 
under  an  escort  to  the  very^ajfallf  of  Newryl 
It  would  profit  me  nothingj^i^ain  one  like 
thee  in  bondage,  and  so  I  ^ill  let  thee  go  for 
this  time.     But  bear  this  in  mind,  that,  if 
ever  thou  art  laid  hold  of  again  on  any  part, 
h<4rever  distant,  o£ the  territory  of  Tyr-owen,  ' 
it  will  fare  hardly  with  thee.      Silence,  I 
command  thee ; '-  for  she/was  about  to  speak" 
in  her  usual  malicious/manner.      He  then 
ordered  some  half-dozen  of  his  men  to  con^ 
Vey  her  to  the  gates  of  Newry,  and  had 
her  instantly  removed.    It  was  evident  that  ^ 

'  this  generous  forbearance  excited  no  grat^  ; 
tude  in  her  callous  heart,  and  he  would  not 
give  her  an  opportunity  for  farther  vitupera- 
tion. "But  tell  thy  employer,"  said  he,  as  a 
last  charge,  *i  that,  for  the  future,  my  people 
will  be  on  the  lookout  for  his  agents^  and 


B£D 


HAITD   OF  ULSTEB. 


103 


tiiey  shall  have  orders  to  hang,  without  judge 
or  jttfy>  any  spy  whom  they  can  lay  hold 

■'«n»»--'     ■■■■/->■■    ■■    ■:^^  ■■■•■•    ■•'     ■■■■     ■■'■■-.':■■■■   .'■'  v." 
The  heldamie  tHrcw  hack  over  her  shoulder 

^  look  of  contemptuous  defiance,  but,  never- 
theless, the  hint  to<^efiect;  for,  from  that 
day  forward,  no  spy  of  Bagnal's  was  ever  dis- 
covered ih  Tyr-oWen.     And  well  it  wa^  for 
O'Neiirs  plans,  for  each  day  his  sph^  ^f?  ^ 
operajtions  became  more  enlarged,  aijd:  his^ 
mfluence  more  wide%  felt  throughout  plstet. 
Even  Tyrcoiinell  seemed  at  length/  to  be 
awaking  from  its  trance,  under  the  influence 
and  example  of  the  chief's  eldest  sdn,  who, 
though  barely  fifteenZgave  already  Jthe  mo^t 
unequivocal  proofs  ^at  he,  at  least,  would 
never  weal;  a  foreigji  thrall  wjth  tame  sub^^ 
mission.     Already  had  he,  boy  as  he  was^ 
led  some  of  the  clansmen  of  his  house  against 
the  English  parties  around  his  borders  on 
the  side  of  Gonnaught,  and  already  did  he 
wield  over  the  people  a  more  powerful  influ- 

"  ence  thsin  his  father  had  ever  obtained* 
Gladly  did  Tyrone  watch  the  development 
of  his  baBther-in-law's  chaficter,  and  noted 


-ri 


1-  T-Bdirj-i 


104 


RED   HAND   OF   ULSTER* 


with  pleasure  the  martial  bent  of  his  mind. 
Hope  was  already  dawning  brightly  on  his 
path,  and  her  beams  shot  over  from  the  wild 
north-west,  when  news  was  brought  him  that 
the  gallant  young  chieftain  was  the  tenant 
of  a  dungeon  in  Dublin  Castle.  It  would 
seem  that  these  precocious  bursts  of  patriot- 
ism, which  revealec^  the  fiery  energy  of  young 
Q'DonneU's  character,  while  they  kindled 
bright  hopes  in  the  far-seeing  mind  of 
O'Neill,  had  not;  failed  to  attract  4he  notice 
of  the  officials  who  held  sway  in  Dublin. 
They  had  long  regarded  with  complacency 
the  supine  indifference  of  theiO'Donnell,  and 
built  thereon  many  a  fair  visidn  of  estates  to 
be^ained  when  the  queen  would  catch  hold 
of  Tyrconnell,  no  difficult  task,  either,  they 
concluded,  as  the  old  man  wak  but  a  silly 
dotard.  And  were  all  these  gojlden  expecta- 
tions to  vanish  before  a  stripling,  a  hair- 
brained  boy?— no,  forbid  it,  prudence  and 
worldly  wisdom !  So^a  vessel  was  seiit  .off 
from  Dublin  expressly  to  "^carrty  off  young 
Hugh,  and,  having  anchored  in  the  upper 
part  of  Donegal  Bay,  the  captain  caused  the 


\ 


I 


RED   HA,ND   OF   TTLSTER. 


105 


news  to  be  spread  on  shore  that  he  had  a 
cargo  of  ihe  richest  and  ratest  Spanish  wines 
to  dispose,  of.  He  had  learned  that  th^ 
young  chief  was  then  hunting  in  the  wild 
district  pf  Farard,  contiguous  to  the  ^  shore, 
and  thereupon  based  his  hopes.  So  Hugh 
Boe>  with  sonie  of  his  young  companions, 
went  on  board  to  visit  the  captain,  who,  they 
were  told,  received  all  comers  with  ready 
hospitality,  and  were  so  well  received  that 
they  remained  during  the  evening.  But 
when  the  light  of  morning  fell  on  the  waters 
of  tbr ( bay,  the  vessel  was  nowhere  to^be 

:'  seen  around  the  shore  and  the  faithful  clans- 
men  of  Tyrconnell  became  sensible,  all  too 
late,  of  her  real  character,  and  that  their 
idolized  young  chief  had  been  basely  entrap- 
ped from  amongst  them.  Soon  it  was  gene- 
rally known  that  Hugh  Roe  0*Donnell  was  a 
prisoner  in  the  Castle  of  Dublin,  and  with 
him  two  cousins  of  the  Earl  of  Tyrone,  that 
is,  Henry  and  Art,  sons  of  Shane  O'Neill, 

-  and  a  young  northern  lord,  a  son  of  the 
McSweeiSey.  This  outrage,  as  might  well 
be  imagined,  gave  rise  to  a  storm  of  indigna- 


.'/   .• 


106 


BBEt^HANB   OF   TJLBTEE. 


f\ 


tion,wliich  gave  a  new  and  vigorous  impulse 
to  the  alction  of  the  cfonfederate  chiefs,  and 
in  some  measure  made  lip  to  the  cause  the 
loss  sustained  in  Q'PwmelL^^^v  :* ' 


■N 


CHAPTER  IV, 


A  FEW  weeks  after  the  capture  of  Hugh 
Boe,  Tyrone  was  again  summoned  to  Lon- 
don, and  he  at  once  prepared  to  set  out ;  for 
the     farther     his    secret    operations    were 
adyanced^    the    more    urgent    became    the 
necessity  for  avoiding  an  op^  declaration  of. 
hostility   against  the    English.      But    how 
tru6  is  the  saying  that  "man  proposes,  but 
God  disposes  " !  for,  on  the  very  day  that  he 
had  fixed  for  his  departure,  his  wife  was 
seized  with  her  death-sickness,  and  for  three 
days  he   was   stationary   by    her   bed  j  for 
b'Neilly  with  all  his  elevation  of  mind  and 
soaring  reach  of  thought,  was  ever  strict  in 
the  fulfilment  of  even  those  smaller  duties 
which  make,  after  alii  the  sum  of  our  life's 
obligations.     On    the    fourth    dgy^   having 


KBD  HANn  OF  ULSTER. 


107 


received  the  Viaticum!  from  Father  MacNa- 
mara,  Judith  took  allong  farewell  of  her 
three  children,  (her  A)n  had  beeia  brought 
home  for  the  melancholy  occasion,)  and  then, 
having  expressed  her  trateful  sense  of  her 
husband's  unwavering  fkindness,  she  calmly 
closed  her  eyes  on  th^  world.     Hqjp  death 
was  quiet  and  serene,  ajs  had  been  her  tem- 
perament through  life,  and  O'Neill,  if  he 
felt  no  very  .poignant  sorrow  for  her  loss, 
was,  nevertheless,  stroiigly  affected  by  her 
early  death,  and  mouried  for  the  bereave- 
ment of  his  children.     He  had  little  doubt 
that  the  shock  bf  her  brother's  being   kid- 
nappe^  away,  and  the  kr  owledge  of  her  aged 
fether's  affliction,  had  accelerated  the  work 
of  diseasfe,  for,  though  Judith  was  never' 
remarkable  for  any  extraoi  dinary  depth  of  feel- 
ing, he  had  observed  th»t  this  late  disaster 
seemed  sensibly  to  affec;her  already  weak- 
ened mind.     So  the  malicious  prediction  of 
the  witch    was    fulfilled,    and    death  had 
claimed  his  own  before  Tyrone  had  set  but 
for    England    on    his    diplomatic   mission. 


■1 


■  AV"  ■» 


r<-.-' 


108 


RED   tlAND  OF   UI^ER. 


O'Neill,  as  mistress  of  his  household,  and 
sent  Con.  back  again  to  his  home  amongst 
the  hills  of  Dungiven,  he  hastened  to  Dub- 
liii,  and,  without  having  even  waited  on  the 
Deputy,  crossed  over  to  London,  being  anx- 
ious to  account  for  his  delay  in  answering 
the  queen's  summons,  '^f    - 

It  required  all  Tyrone's  strength  of  mind 
to  bear  up  against  the  furious  torrent  of 
wrath  which  his  appearance  drew  from 
Elizabeth,  and  any  one  less  acquainted  than 
he  was  with  the  intricacies  and  peculiarities 
of  her  character  would  have  despaired,  not 
only  of  obtaining  pardon,  but  even  a  hear- 
ing. Not  so  O'Neill ;  for,  putting  on  a  coun- 
tenance of  earnest  attention,  he  stood 
patiently  Before  the  queen  till  the  storm  of 
her  anger  had  exhausted  its  violence,  and  it 
was  truly  ludicrous  to  see  the  sudden  calm 
which  fbllowM.  "  But  hast  thou  nought 
to  say  in  thy/afesfenoe  ? "  she  then  asked, 
flowering  her  foicepW  at  least  an  octave. 

"  Much,  niy  liege-|-much  have  I  to  say ; 
but  it  would  ill  becpme  a  dutiful  subject  to 


i^        -"v. 


'-""^  •^•'  '-"t 


BED   HAND   OF    UI^EB. 


109 


One  tKougiit  alone  kept  possession  of  my 
mind,  while  I  listened  to  your  majesty's 
repetition  of  the  charges  laid  in  against  me 
since  my  last  visit.  I  see,  as  plainly  as  we 
do  the  sun  at  noon,  that  these  concealed 
enemies,  of  whom  1  have  erewhile  spoken 
to  your  highness,  are  resolved,  if  tfiey  can, 
,1to  break  the  bonds  of  my  allegiance ;  they- 
think,  by  blackening  me  in  your  majesty's 
sight,  to  draw  down  upoii  me  some  punish- 
ment which  would  rouse  me  to-  resistance. 
But  they  shall  not  succeed;  much  will  I 
bear  rather  than  gratify  their  malice,  even 
were  my  gratitude  utterly  extinct." 

Nothing  could  well  be  better  managed 
than  this  reply,  for,  by  putting  the  question 
on  that  footing,  he  contrived  to  awaken  the 
queen's  former  fears  of  his  being  moved  to 
rebel  against  her  authority,  while,  by  his  ai^* 
of  injured  innocence,  he  turned  the  shaft  of 
her  anger  from  himself  to  them,  whom  he 
thus  set  down*  as  endeavoring  to  make  her 
their  dupe  Again,  few  things  could  be^ 
more  gratifying  to  Elizabeth  than  the  well- 
feigned  resolution  with  which  he  declared 


i 


110 


BED  HAND   OF   ULSTER. 

7 


that  they  should  notXsucceed  in  driving  him 
to  rebellion,  80  that,  on  the  whole,  he  had 
scarcely  concluded  when  Elizabeth's  age- 
dimmed  eye  twinkled  Vith  pleasure,  and  the 
wrinkles  around  her  shrunken  mouth  were 
puckered  into  a  smile. 

»«  God's  death,  earl!  but  thou  art  none  so 
far  wrong  after  all  their  lying  clack  ;  for,  by 
our  halidomei  the  proof  against  thee  is 
never  forthcoming.  But,  to  tdl  thee  a 
truth,  we  were  oursdves  displeased  by  thy 
taking  upon  thee  ^hat  rascally  name  of  the 
O'Neill— how  didst  thou  so  far  forget  thy- 
self and  the  lofty  title  we  had  so  lately  given 
thee,  at  thine  own  asking  I " 

"And  was  it  not  the  very  best  thing  that 
I  could  have  done,  an'  it  please  your 
majesty  ? "  said  the  earl,  with  a  plausible 
show  of  sincerity  and  candor.  «  The  people 
were  determined  to  change  their  chief;  as 
Tirlogh  Lynnoch  was  too  old,  and  moreover 
anything  biitsound^in^his. mind ;  so  they 
pitched  upon  me  aTBeittg  near  6f  kin,  and 
by  yxinr^igbness's  favor,  of  prosperous  for- 
tunes,  whereupon  I  was  fain  to  accept  the 


■*-JK^lf?*^^.  \:-Sii;'^--.^r"'-^-  ; ;'- 


f- 


RBD   HAND   OP  ULSTER. 


Ill 


offered  post,  to  the  end  that  it  might  not  be 
filled  by  one  hostile  to  your  majesty's  inter# 
ests,  as  such  are  not  wanting  in  the  north. 
Heuce  I  did  bend  my  head  to  receite  their 
honors ;  and,  purely  to  maintain  your  high^* 
ness's  authority,  I  suffered  them  to  style  me 
after  their  primitive  fashion." 

"So  every  story  hath   two   sides,*'  said/^ 
Elizabeth,  *' and,  by  our  crown  and  sceptre, 
wp  are  right  glad  to  hear  so  loyal  an  inter- 
pretation put  by  thyself  on  this  untowa^i^ 
matter.     Now  wilt  thou  do  one  thing  f<^  ; 
us,  to  prove  the   lie  in  the  face  of    some  J 
black-hearted  knaves  we  wot  of  ?  " 

O'Neill  mdi-ely  bowed  low,  and  laid  his 
hand  on  his  heart. 

"  Then  permit  my  people  to  build  a  fort- 
ress on  the  Blackwater- — a  river  which  runs, 
we  know,  right  through  thy  domains.  This 
will  convince  thine  enemies  of  their  foul 
ihjustice,  when  they  see  an  English  garrispix 
in  the  very  heart  of  Tyr-oweij^  < 

**  It  6hall  be  done,  most  royaliady  I  and  I 
deem  myself  but  too  happy  in  being  permit- 
ted  to  give  your  majesty  even  so  stnall  ft 


4l« 


BED   HAND   OF   ULST«B. 


proof  Of  my  true  allegiance.*'     Eagerly  did^ 

the  queen  catch  at  this  consent ;  and  some  of 

Jher^  trusty     adviseri^  .  being    called,    they 


unfoWed  a  map  of  Ulster,  and  proceeded  to 
deliberate  on  the  best  spot  for  their  purpose. 
O'Neill  was  all  smileswh^H  &«  queen  had 
occasion  to  ask  hisTavice,  and  gracefully 
beesed  to  coincide  with  the  opinion  alre4dy 
riven  by  her  majesty.  So  the  place  was 
appointed,  and  orders  almost  instantly 
tent  off  to  have  the  building  commenced 

(forthwith.  ^  »•    ,  . 

Before  O'Neill  tookhis  leave  of  the  queen, 

ke  took  occasion  to  relate  how   his   wife's 
chaplfdn  (as  he  chose  to  call  Mm)  had  been 

treated  by  Bagnal,  and  dwelt  particularly  on 
tfie  fact  that  his  respect  for  ier  majesty  s 
pffidalhad  alon*  prevented  him  from  taking 
away  this  friend  by  force;  A  cloud  dark-, 
ened  once  more  on  Elizabeth's  bj<iw.  but  it 
could  not  long    resist  the  earl's  honeyed 

-irords*  aid  it  blew  over  like  those  which  had 
gone  before.  "But  we  tell  thee, my  lord  of 
Tyrone,  that  there  must  he  no  more  of  this. 
We  say  nought  of  Bagnal's  conduct  m  that 


BED   HAND  OF   ULSTEIl. 


118 


matter,  (since  it  accorded*with  our  repeated^ 
instructions,)  but,  by  the  soul  of  our  royal 
father,  we  will  have  no  popish  chaplains 
entertained  by  any  who  call  themselves  our- 
subjects.  Look  well  to  this,  lord  earl !  or — " 
and  she  shook  her  clenched  fist  at  his  face, 
to  the  manifest  danger  of  his  most  prom- 
inent feature — "  or — or  we  must  teach  thee 
that  thou  servest  a  queen  who  hates  the 
abominations  of  popery  as  she.  does  the  hell 
from  which  ihey  have  their  birth." 

It  might  be  that  there  was  something  in 
the  heightened  color,  and  resolutely  kept-down 
eye  of  O'Neill,  which  reminded  the  queen 
of  her  momentary  error ;  for,  ere  he  had  time 
or  inclination  to  answer,  she  hastily  added, 
"But  we  know  we  can  depend  on  thine 
honor  and  obedience  to  see  these  pur  wishes 
carried  out.'*  J 

"I  have  but  to  repeat,"  said  the  earl, 
with  another  low  bow,  "that  I  shall  ever 
bear  in  mind  the  wishes  of  my  sovereign  f 
they  are  sacred  in  my  eyes-."  I 

On  the  following  day,  when  O'Neill  piaid 
his  visit  to  the  queen,  he  found  her  in  earn- 


A    . 

- 

-  /  ■ 

/ 

is,/  ■ 

■ .-  ■'  ■  '  ■" 

—■fijm*-' 


w 


..-' 


114 


RBD   HAND  OF   ULSTER. 


est  convoysation  Vith  a  young  man  whose  ' 
singularly  fine  person  was  encased  in  a  trav- 
elling costume,  scrupulously  conforjnable  to 
the  approved  fashion  of  the  age  in  EngTand. 
The  most  fastidious  eye  could ^nd  no  fault,  ^ 
eitheiirtHe  perfect  contour  of  his  fine  Roman 
fac^  or  the  wondrous  symmetry  of  his  form, 
while  the  assured  smile  which  rested  ever  on 
his  lip  seemed  to  say  that  he  challenged  and 
dei^ed  all  criticism.     He  was  seated  on  a  low 
chair  near  the  queen,  who  seemed  mightily 
pleased  with  his  highlvjwro^ight  compliments, 

and   4t  less   so   y^m^^^^^^l^^^m 
which  he  haarbeen«PP>fFagilR  some 
of  the  reigning  beauties  of  the  court.     Ihe 
whole  appearance  of  the  man,  from  his  closely 
»ctit  hair  downwards,  was  so  utterly  unlike 
Uhatof  an  Irfeh  cavalier  of;]the  time,— it  was 
^o' smart,  (to  use  a  moderiiVpHrase,)  and  so 
•  finical,  that  O'Neill  was  somewhat  surprised, 
notwithstanding  his  experience  of  men  and 
manners,  when  tife  queen  called  out,  on  ^ee- 
inghim,— "Thou   comest  in  a  good  time, 
my  lord  of  Tyrone  I     For   here   is  another 


■^i^Ki 


BID  BAND  OF  ULSTJUU 


115 


Turn  thee,  Miles,  And  make  the  ac^uaiutanct! 
of  our  good  friend  of  Tyrone.'*         9 

Upon  this,  the  young  man  startei  to  his 


teat,  and,  turning  quickly,  met  the  inquiring 
eye  of  O'Neill,  as  it  rested  upon  him  with% 
no  very  encouragirtg  expression.  Yat' the 
•  cavalier  regarded  him  with  eyklent'mdniira^ 
tion,  aVid  said,  in  a  half-whisper  to  the  queen, 
— "Of  a  truth,  he  doth  well  become  his  hon^ 
pr»  J  he  is  a  noble,  even  of  nature's  makii|Bf." 
**  Whom  have  I  the  honor,  of  seeing  for  the 
irst  time  ? "  asked  O'Neill,  with  a  somewkat 
stiff  bow.  .  ^ 

«*  My  name   is  O'Reilly^  my  lord  earl-— , 

Miles  O'Reilly,  at  your  lordship's   service/* 

said  the  young  man  with  a  respectful  bow.  ^ 

"How?       One    of   the    O'Reilly's    off 
©reffhi?'* 

' "  The  same,  my  lord  ;  a  son  of  Sir  John 

O'Reilly.**  "^        '  ;  ; 

"|ia!  *'  said  O'Neill,  after  a  short  |lau8e, 

during  which   tfe   appeared   to  be  reoalling 

'  some  half-forgotten   memory—"  O,  Sir  John 

O'Reilly,  ay,  I  do  femember,  and  a  nej>hew  — 

of  the  O'Reilly ;  ai^  I  right  ?  " 


ar'^^^sssr^ 


1^9 


KEi)   HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


. '  ■?■ 


/'^ffriily  yes.     Then  "said  the  eari^  shak- 
kg^,  by  ah  efibrt,  his  coldness  of  manner, 

W  shaking  O'ReiUy  by  the  hand-«then  I 
hJe  pleasure  in  recognizing  thee  as  a  coun- 
tx^man,  and  cannot  but  hope  that  we  shall  be 
letter  acquainted.''  He  then  turned  to  the 
4ueen  with  aiv  ainple   apology   for   having 

/spoken  so  long  to  any  one  in  her^oyalTi^sr 

/  ence,  but  Elizabeth  graciously  answered  that 
I  he  could  not  please,  her  better  thaiv^y  show- 
ing civUity  to  her  young  soldier:  There 
were  none  present  In  the  room,  but  some 
three  orfour  of  the  queen's  ladies ;  and, 
turnmg  short  round,  she  said  to  thena,-^ 
«  Betake  yourselves,  damsels,  to  yonder  wm- 

aow,   where  Ist^ds  an    embroidery  frame. 
;  We  love  hot  to   see  young    maidens  idle ; 
bestir  your  ^ngers,  while  we   here  t^k  ^ 
^  matters    which    concern    us    much.        Ott 
went  th^  ladies  to  their  allotted  employment, 
and  the  qaeen  again  addressed  O'Neill,  r 
^.^>.^r^ow  that  we  have  got  rid  of  so  many 
prying  eyes,  and>  sent  some  four  pairs  of  ears 
o.,t  nf  hearing,  we  would- tell  thee,  our  good 
friend,   that   we  have  a  double  interest  m 


■1^ 


RED   HAND   OF   uiSTER. 


117 


making  thyself  and  O'Reilly  known  to  each 
other.  Over  and  above  our  hope  that  ye 
will  aid  each  other  in  establishing  law  and 
order  in  that  wild  Ulster,  we  have  something 
presently  in  view*"  O'Neill  could  merely 
bow  in   silence,  when  the   queen  turned  to 

:■;  O'Reilly,--''  ■.■■'/■■■.■..  ■■■':'/■/:--■'■■■'■■  ■■^■^ 
"Since  jthou  wouldst  fain  jfenter  oi^r  ^er- 

^S^ice  in  a.,pore  direct  form,  W^  would  have" 
thee  male  thine  apprentioteship,  and  pre- 
paratory studies  under  the^  eye  of  a  'skilful 
commander,  like  his  lordship  of  Tyrone:  .  He 
holds  a  perpetual  commanjd  in  our  army,  and, 
we  are  told,  Isceepeth  Ms  men  in  such 
admir^le  discipline  an/d  good  order,  that 
they  are  ever  ready  for  the  field.  |f  my 
lord  of  Tyrone  will*  matke  room  for  thee  in 
JisJiouse  of  Dungann(m^and  undertake  ttf 
ffive  thee  the  benefit  o^  an  occasional/ lessoix 
^in  the  art  of  war,  we  will  take  it  as  a  good 
serviGe.  "VVjJiat  sayest  thoii,  my  lord  earl  ? 
,    There  wai^  a  certain  sly  twinkle  in  Elizr 

■    abeth's  eye  that  was  not  lost  upon  Tyrone, 

'  ^who  well  Understood  the  hidden  meaning  of 
this  manoeuvre,  but  he  had   nothing  for  it 


A  .Ml 


V  !| 


H 


'./>- 


ismr- 


iiF 


BED   HAND  OF  TJlStEIU 


but  compliance,  and  to  do  it  with  bis  best 
grace  was  the  object.     Nor  was  the  task  dif- 
ficult  for  him  ;  for  to  his  wondrous  pc|g;  of 
disguising  his  feelings,  no  appeaM^as 
hard  to  make.     There  was  not  a  rilSI|,fliere- 
'  ibre,  on  his   polished  brow,  nor   a  shade  of-  ^ 
discontent  inhis  clear,  calm  eye  as  he^eclared 
himself  highly    honored   by   her   majesty's 
.:^oice  of  a  preceptor  iov  her  young  proteg6. 
Of  course,  he  was  perfectly  willing  to  give 
any  instructions  in   his  power  to  so  prom- 
ising a  young  nobleman.     And   he   bowed 
courteously  to  O'Reilly,  who,  on  his  side, 
expressed  himself  doubly    honored  by  the 
queen's  gracious  consideration  of  his  interest, 
and  the  earl  of  Tyrone's  polite  condescension. 
It  ^as  then  settled,  that  O'Reilly  should 
defer  his  departure  till  the  next  day,  in  order 
to  be  with  Tyrone.      So  together  they  com- 
menced their  journoy,  and  in  due  time  they 
arrived  together  at  the  Castle  of  Dungannon. 
Here,  then,  was  O'NeiU  pkced  at  once  under 
•the  most  irksotne  restraint,  for,   though  a 
toarked  change  had  taken  place  in  O'Reilly's 
manners/and  even  in  his  style  of  dress,  since 


■■J- 


BBD   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


119 


he  found  himself  again  in  Ireland,  yet  still  it 
would  have   been    madness    to    trust    him. 
And  yet  there  were  moments  when  O'Neill 
laneied  that  O'Reilly,  too,  was  but  acting  A 
part,  for,  on  various  occasions,  when  the  out- 
rages, perpetrated  on  the  Irish  people,  were 
casually  alluded  to,  in  his  presence,  in  a  gen- 
eral way,  he  \^as  seen  to  start,  and  change 
color,  as  though    the    subject  affected  him 
more  deeply  than  he  dared  to  show,  for  he  , 
never  sirffered  a  word  of  sympathy  with  their 
wrongs    to    escape    him.      Nor    could    all 
O'NeiU's  address  draw  from  him  the  slightest 
explanation  of  his  real  sentiments.     After  all, 
this  was  easily  accounted  for,  as  lie  naturally 
looked  on  Tyrone,  with  Ms  Saxon  title  of 
Earl,  as  the  firm  friend  of  the   queen.     It 
chanced,  just  at  this  time,  that  the  English 
rulers  of  Ireland  made  themselves  guilty  of 
still  another,  and  a  fbuler  crime,  one,  indeed, 
which,  if  anything  could,  would  have  roused 
the  Ipd  from  Gape  Clear  to  Fair  Head.     It 
is  matter  of  history,  how  the  McMahon,  of 
Monaghan,  then  called,  tJriel,  being  a  man 
of  an  easy  and  peace-loving  disposition,  had 


t'  !| 


I' 
f 

f 

.      > 
f      1 


120 


BBD  HAND  OP  tJLSTEA. 


80  far  given  way  to  the  encroaching  English 
as   to  receiVe   their   laws,   and   the  official 
appendageMhereof;  includihg  sheriflfe,  bail- 
iffs, etc      Now,  one  ofliis  tributaries,  viz,, 
Brian  McMahon,  of  Bartrey,  having  become 
refractory,  and  refused  to   pay  his  lawful 
tribute,  the  chief  was  obliged  to  levy  it  after 
the  usual  fashion,  that  is  to  say,  by  force  of 
arms..    This  having  ^come  to  the  deputy's 
ears.  He  marched  down  to  Uriel,  and  finding 
that  the  McMahon  did  not  attempt  to  deny,  ^ 
nor  yet  to  palliate  what  he  had  done,  the 
worthy    representative  of   majesty    became 
(or  affected  to  become)  highly  indignant,— 
declared  the  offence  treasonable,  and  impan- 
neled  a   jury  to  try  the  culprit.     It  may 
well  be  imagined  how  the  feve   men  of 
Uriel  regarded   this   impudent  proceeding, 
-beeing  that  their  chief  had  done  nottog  but 
talce  his  own  where  it  was  unjustly  detain^, 
:— lori  did  they  acknowledge  any  %ht  on 
the^part  of  any  foreign  autl|ority  to%  him. 
But,  rifevertheless,  the  good^^eputy  went,  on, 
got  twelve  of  his  own  soldiers  to  act  as  jury- 
men,  and.  the  chieftain  of  Monaghan  was  , 


BBD  HAND  OF  XJtStEB, 


121 


:■.■■■■■■  f  ■".■■.'■,■ 

found  guUty   of   levying  wto-against^the 
queen,  though  his  crime  was  just  as  we  have 
rtated  it.     Conviction  was  speedily  followed  ^ 
by  execution,  and  the  noble  McMahon  was 
hkg  before  his  own  haU-door,-^he  fir^ 
victim  of  that  English  law  which  he  had 
been  fool  enough  to  admit  into  his  territories,  . 
The  deputy  thought,  of  course,  that  all  w^ 
right,  and  drew  off  his  men  from  the  soil  of 
Ulster  as  fast  as  might  be,  having  perchance 
some    misgivings   as  to  how    the   country 
round  might  look  upon  the   deed.      ihe 
atrocious  murder  thus  wantonly  committed, 
gave  him  no  qualm  of  conscience,  for  it  was 
a  good  deed  to  make  away  with  a  native 
chief,  and  then,  above -all,  Ws  whole  vast 
domains  foil,  as  a  matter  of  course,  to  the 
crown,  and  in  virtue  of  conquest,  a  strong 
garrison  was  thrown  into  Monaghan  Castle. 
So  what  wonder,  with  such  advantages  as 
these,  that  McMahon's  execution  was  rather 
a  jnetitorious  action  in  English  eyes.     But 
so  did  not  think  the  clansmen  of  Uriel,  for 
no  sooner  had  the  deputy  turned  his  back 
than  they   elected  that  identical  Brian  of 

■-:..■■■■■  ^    -  ■  ;..■,-£    ■•  ■      /■  .  .       '  -m.- :■■■■■ 


ii'. 


1^2 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


Dartrey  in  room  of  the  mufdered  cbiefj  well 
knowing  that  he  was  just  the  man  to  «tand 
tip  for.  his  and  their  rights.  To  be  sure  the 
whole  territory  of  Monaghan  had  been  divided 
by  Fitzwilliam  aihongst  some  of  his  officers, 
(the  largest  share  having  fallen  to  CNeilFs 
enemy,  Bagnal,)  but  little  cared  the  Mc- 
Mahons  for  these  grants ;  and  Brian  of  Dar- 
trey drove  the  English  from  his  country, 
and  held  it,  too,  for  many  a  long  day  after. 

When  these  tidings  reached  Dungannon, 
O'Neill  and  O'Eeilly  were  just  ^returned 
from  a  .visit  to  the  fortress  of  Portmore, 
which,  in  obedience  to  the  queen's  commands, 
was  then  in  course  of  erection.  O'Reilly 
had  been  speaking  of  his  uncle,  the  chief  of 
Breffni  O'Reilly,  and  O'Neill  had  managed 
to  draw  from  him  the  fact  that  his  adherence 
^to  the  English  cause  was  anything  but 
ples^ng  to  that  nobleman.^r-~^^^ 

"But   it   ma/tters   not,"    said    he   gaily  5 
«  Elizabeth  Tiidor  is  a  powerful  friend,  audi 

a  rich  re  warder."  .-  .  • 

4  <«  True,"  /remarked    O'Neill,     ''  ^  ^ 
exceeding  g;enerou8-,  especially  to  her  Irish 

'      ■'       -        .  ' ■     ' '  ■      J    '"  ■  %■.■■."■..   -.;:_■     -._  _      '  ■ ;   ■■ 

■  ■".,.-•■-  ■     .      '*\"iy  :" 


BED  HAND   OF  tLSTER. 


1^8 


fevorite8."0'Remy  thought  he  recognized 
something   altogether  new  in  the  tone  of 
these  word8,  and  he  looked  hard  at  O  NetU,_ 
but  the  latter  only   smiled,  and  the  smUe- 
went  for  nothing,  so  Miles  began  to  hum  a 
tune,  and  walked  to  a  window,  looking  all 
the  time  *8  though  he  would  give  ajrifle^ 
have    his    doubts    solved.        Just/ at    this 
moment,  Cormac  O'NeUl,  the  ear)^  brother, 

entered    the    room,   and  witlm4t    noticmg 
O'Reilly  where  he  stood,  hunted  up  to  the 
spot  where  his  brother  saty^In  a  few  hasty 
words  he  related    the  stoi^  of  McMahon  s 
wrongs,  and  was  proceediiig  to  make  such  a 
comment  as  might  b/expected,  when  the 
earl  laid  his  finger  oi/ his  lip,  and  pointed  to 
O'Beilly.     At  the  skme  time  he  took  Cormac 
by  the  arm,  and  Jed  him  to  th^  upper  end 
of  the  room.  /But  O'K^iUy  was  there  as 
soon  as  theUelves,  and  his  fine  face  was 
burning  wijih  a  crimson  glow. 

"O'Neill  I  "he  said,  in  a  voice  of  deep 
demotion/"  have  I  heard  aright?  Hath  Fitz- 
-^Uli^^ared    to  hang  .  Hugh .  McMahcm 
fevei/as  though  he  were  a  dog  ?  V 


IH 


RED   HAND   OF  ULSTBIU 


jU^  ttarry,  hatji  he,  Miles  I "  returned 


Tyrone,  with  a  desperate  effort  to  preserve 
an  appearance  of  composure.     "But^w 


found  guilty  by  a  jury  of  twelve." 

Miles  O'Beilly  turned  from  the  unreada- 
He  countenance  of  Tyrone  to  that  of  liis  ^ 
younger  brother,  and.  he  saw  its  every  fea- 
ture  working   ivith    pity    and    indignation 
strangely    commingled.     And    he    remem- 
bered  the  words  which  he  had  overheard 
from  Cormac  ere  his  brother  stopped  him. 
*^This  will  make  us  sure  of  Brian  and  all 
TJiiel"     The  words  were  written  in  fiery 
characters  on  >is  mind,  «nd  he  thought  that 
now.or  never  he  ^ould  Rave  the  truth. 

"My  lord  earl  I "  he  said,  laying  his  hand 
on  O'Neiirs  arm,  and  looking  keenly  into 
his  face-  *'  I  know  and  feel  that  in  thy  heart 
thou  dost  feel  as  I  do-deceiSfe  me  no  longe^ 
but  tell  me^  adjure  thee  in  the  naineof 
the  Most  High^does  not  thy  blood  hoA 
even  as  does  mine  own,  arid  thine  whole 
soul  rise  up  in  horror  at  this  unmatched  out- 
.7     Se^,  T  have  caA  off  4:he  veil— I  have 


^age 


committed  myselfewhat  hast  thou  longer 


"■*; 


:»■ 


:■■■  ■< 


jun)  haSb  of  rtsTEii. 


125 


to  fear?    Speak,  prince  of  Ulster !  shall  this 

foul  wrong  go  "nf8**''8*'l  •  " 

..Miles  O'BeiUyl"  said  O'Neill,  solemnly, 
..I  have-  read  thy  soul  in  that  speaking  face 
of  thine.     Nay,  more,  this  is  not  the  first 
time  for  me  to  do  so-and  that,  do  I  trust 
even  apart  from  thy  words.     If  thou  provest 
«  deceiver,  never  will  I  again  trust  the  evi- 
dence of  an  honest  countenance.     I  will  then 
tell  thee  that  I  feel  (as  an  Irishmrfi,  ought,) 
this  wanton  insult  and  outrage,  and   were 
the  power  mine  at  this  moment,  I  wvU  con- 
fess that  FitzwiUiam  should  he  made  to  rue 
the  day  when  he  set  foot  on  the  territory  of 

UrieL"  '        •  .    ,  ; 

..It  is  well,"  said  O'Reilly,  "but  what 
Meant  those  words  of  thy  brother,  that  th> 
urnldbring  over  Brian  oM  I/neZ?  lowhat 
will  it  bring  them  over  I "  V      , 

"Nay,"  and  the  earl  threw  a  warning 
glance  on  his  brother,  as  ttlough  fear,ng  his 
Lhness  of  speech,  "nay.  Miles,  thou  goest 
too  fest-it  is  clear  that  thou  hast  caught  up 
my  brother's  words  in  a  wrong  sense.^        ^^ 

J)'Edlly  shook  his  head  dottbaugly,  an^ 


I    U 


ill 


J     ■ 


.%» 


^^-4«ft 


^. 


AED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


merely  saying,— •"  This  .  li^hat   comes  of 
wearing  short  hair,  and  b(Rt|i  called  a  royal 
favorite  ;  '*  he  took  Cormac's^rm,  and  drew 
him  away,  laughing  as  he  went,  though  his 
laugh  was  anything  but  natural. 
'     Left  alone,  wi^^his  own  thoughts,  O'Neill 
speedilx "  forgot  Ki;  speculations  conceri|iing 
O'Reilly  iri  the  overpowering  feelings  arising 
from  the  iiitelligence  just  -received.     How- 
ever great-  w^a  his  indignation  at  the  foul 
crime,  it  is  certain,  that,  as  a  politician  and 
statesman,  he  saXy  that  it  would  do  m^uch  to 
urge  on  the  tardj^  preparations  of  the  chiefs, 
and  rouse  them  to    a   sense    of  their   own 
individual    danger   from    the   insidious   and 
ever-watchful  policy   of  the  English.     Nor 
aid  the  result  belie  his  hopes,  for  no  sooner 
was  the  tragical  story  niacje  known  than  a 
tempest  of  fiery  wrath  swept  through  men's 
souls  all  the  land  over,  and  fierce  and  deadly 
were  the  vows  orvengeance  breathed  against 
ihe  deputy  and  the  ruthless  government  that 
80  relentlessly  persecuted  the  Celtic  race. 

About  this  time  all  eyes  were  turned,  some 
in  hope  and  some  in  fear,   on  the  vast  prep- 


BED   HANP   OF  ULSTER. 


12*/ 


arations  going  on  along  the  Spanish  coast  for 
a  grand  invasion  of  England.      Phihp  the 
Second,  who  then  filled  the  throne  of  Spain,  ^ 
/had  never   concealed   the  strong  sympathy 
with  which  he  regarded  the  sufferings  ^ 
Catholic  Ireland,  and  now  that  he  was  aboiii 
making  a  fhial  descent  on  England,  it  was 
hoped  that  he  had  these  unmerited  sufferings 
inview.     O'Neill,  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  European   politics  in  general,  shared 
deeply  in  these  expectations,  and  even  looked 
forward  to  receiving  efficient  aid  from  His 
Most  Catholic  Majesty  in  the  great  struggle 
which  must  soon   come   on.      Just   at   the 
moment  when  his  hopes  were  at  the  highest, 
came  the  direful  news  that  the  great  Spanish 
Armada^the    most   magnificent    armament 
that  modern,  or,  perhaps,  ancient  times  had 
seen-was  a  total  failure,  and  that  the  winds 
of  heaven  had  scattered  that  noble  fleet  like 
chaff,  leaving  Httle  or  nothing  for  Elizabeth  s 
admiral?  to  do.     He  was  mounting  his  horse 
toset  out  with  O'Reilly  on  a  visit  to  the  old 
castie  of  Benburb,  when  twoxouriers  arrived 
almost  in  the  same  instant  from  two  of  the 


i  ! 


^   1^^ 


-3^    , 


123 


KBD  HANP  OF   UL8TEE, 


chieftains  whose  territories  lay  on  the  coast, 
announcing  that  some  of  the  Spanish  vessels 
had  been  driven  in  on  their  jrespective  bor-^ 
ders.     Tyrone  heard  the  news  with  a  sinking 
heart,  yet  was  he  gratified  to  hear  that  the 
shipwrecked  Spaniards  had  been  hospitably 
received.     Fain  woiitd  he  hi^e  sent  a  mes- 
sage to  each,  expressive  of  hi^  gratitude  and 
warm    approbat^n,    but    the    presence    of 
P'Reilly.rendered  such  a  step  hazardous.. 
\    It    is    probable    that    O'Reilly    partially 
understood  the  dilemma  in  which  his  com- 
panion was  placed,  for  l^e  said,  with  a  sly 
smile,  "Then  our  visit  "is  postponed,  is  it 

not,  my  lord?"   ;     » ; 

*'  Certainly  not.  Miles,'*  returned  O'Neill,- 
quickly,  and  then  turning  to  his  brother, 
who  came  up  at  the  moment,  he  said,  "  Take 
these  menln  charge,  Cormac,  and  see  that 
they  be  well  cared  for.  Let  them  not  depart 
before  the  morrow,  as  their  steeds  require 
rest."  A^d  his  loolt  tdld  Cormac  ^siccustomed 
as  he  was  to  read  his  countea^Uce,)  fnlly  as 
much  as  his  words. 


4€ 


And  now  for  the  old  homestead  of  my 


w 


RED    HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


in 


family!"  said  the  earl,  with  assumed  cheer- 
fulness, as   he    rode   away    by  the   side  of 

^*ReiUy.  *  V  \ 

.  .When  O'Reilly  had  taken  ^  full  view  of 
rtie  old   storied   castle,   he  could   not    but 
admire  its  commanding  position,  so  admiri- 
bly  calculated  for  a  protracted  defence,  with 
its  rough  dry  stone  wall  rising  from  a  preci- 
pice of  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  while 
below   rolls   the   subject    BlackWater.      On 
two  other  sides  this  rock  retains  its  precip- 
itous character,  80  thattl^  fortress  is  impreg- 
nable on  three  sides,     ps  immense  heigh|^ 
gives  it,  too,  an  extcnsivi  view  over  the  sur- 
rounding country,  so  tfiHthe  whole  prov- 
ince of  Ulster  does  not  .furnish  ^"better  site, ; 
or  one  more  easily  defended   than  this  old 
dwelling-place  of  the  O'Neills.     As  the  earV 
and  O'Reilly  stood   together,  looking   down 
on  the  deep,  quiet  river,  did  it  ev«r  cross  the 
mindof  either  how  that  stream  would  become 
associated  with  historic   memories,  and  that, 
so  long  as  it  rolls  onward  through  the  green 
valleys  of  Tyrone  and  Armagh,  it  ^hall  bcM: 


1 

i 


l^li 


^ 


rii-i^.f-:.' 


% 


#■ 


I 


{ / 


I 


.■■■  '\ 


I     t 


w^ 


ISO 


RED  HANi)   OF  TJISTER. 


ft*,V- 


ished  glory  ?W6;  little  dreJmed  even  te, 
the  great  ma^cian  who  conjlired  up  (alas," 
^hat  it  should  be  to  fade  again!)  those  dreams 
of  glory  and  triumph  for  his*  country, —little 
dreamed  even  he  of  the  Blackw^er^s  glori- 
ous day/when  h^  looked  down  from  that 
embattled,  height,  on  the  d^y  in  question, 
and  thought  only  of  the  feceiA  ^lure  of  at 
least  one  bright  expectation.  -k^ 

€0n  his  return  from  Benburb,  th©  fearl  left 
O'Eeilly  and  Cormac  together  while  he  went 
to  give  his  message  to  the  cpuriers  from  the 
north.  He  had  biirely  done  so,  when  who 
should  arrive  but  0'Cahan>  of  Arachty.  He 
immediately  spoil*  of  the  late  disaster,  and 
was  proceeding  to  express  his  satirfaetion  at 
the  generous  hospll^lity  with  which  the  Span- 
iards had"  been  received  on  the  Irish  coast. 
"It  were  well,"  said  he,  "if  they,  had  aU 
been  so  fbrtun^e  as  to  fair  into  the  hands  of 

our  people.'*  '  ^       .^  ^ 

■  >fl  know  not  that,"   observed  O'Cah 
tfrily     '"  Philipof  Spain  might  have  but  little 
'     cause  to  thank  us  were  his  manners^  cast 
exclusively  on  certain  of  our  coasts*" 


REP   HAND  OF  XJLSltER. 


181 


*fHow  ip  that?'^  asked  O'Neill,  witk 
pewly-awalcened  interest.  "  There  is  som^j- 
thing  to  follow  that  saying  of  thine,  or  I  am 

^aistaken.*'  • 

«  Thau  h£t  not  then  lieard  of  the  recep- 
tion given  by  O'Donnell  to  the"' Spaniards?" 
«*  Surely,  no  !  "  replied  Tyrone.  "  But> 
though  I  expect  to  hear  little  good  of  Manui, 
I  cannot  fear  that  he  treated  them  badly,  _oi;| 
with  small  courtesy." .  . 

"Nay,  he  gave  thgih,  as  far  as  that  goes, 
just '  the   same  treaCmient   one   would    give 
an  mvading  foe.      -A^ctin^  on  the  advice  of 
pertain  Englishmen  ^hom  he  chobses  t0r4iar- 
bor,  he  set  upon  the  unfortunate  and  half- 
drowned  strangers,  ks  they  craiA?led  ashore, 
and  sle^  a  great  number  of  them ;  (at  leas| 
his^  people   did  fof  him ;)   others  h6  kept 
alive  until  he  s^nt  them  to  Dublin  chained 
.  together  as  a  right «  welcome  gift  to  Fitzwil^ 
liam,  and  I  know  not  but  he  shewed  greater 
mercy  to  those  whom  his  battle-axes  deprived 
of  life.     Now,  O'Neill,  what  thinkest  thou 
of  such  hospitality  as  thatr  "  ,- ^> 

Tyrone  made  no  immediate  reply ;  for 


*••■■;?;■.. 


J^/ 


nx 


132  bB>  hasb  o'  "i^**- 

tod^atW.  BOt  ^mningled  with  shame  % 

,once  aeprived  him  of  the  power  of  speed*. 

Every  trace  of  color  -left  his  cheek,  and  he 

-closed  his  eyes  ^r  a  «<'>»«»*^  *°f\!^ 
k«t  out  so  foul  a  spectacle.     When  he  d.d 

•  speak,  his  voice  was  husky  with  strong  emo- 
tL.  and,  stopping  full  in  frout  of  _^0  Cahan 
ffor  he  had   been  talking  to  and  fro.)  W 
exclaimed,  in  a  higher  tone  than  he  general  y 
was  heard  to   use.   "  O'Cahan,.!  do  saylo 
,hee,  as  a  man   acd  an  Irishman,  that  this 
O'Donnellis  more  odious  in  my  eyes  than 
the  greedy  and  grasping^  tyrant.  FitzwilUam. 
Pitiable  it  is.  that  so  base  a  creature  shoojd 
rule  in  Tyrconnell ;  and  shame  on  thynen 

*  who  executed  his  will.     But,  alas,  tW^P^it 
■■  of  the  kinel-conalisimmured  inth^^ngeoiB 

of  Dublin  ;  O,  would  to  Heavei./that  Hugh 
Boe    could   bave  been  thej/  but  for  oae 

hour""      •    ■         '■■■■■-■■/ 

»  Ay,-  so  said  I.  whesrthis  shameful  stpry 

Vas  told  me  1 "  said  Otahan  ;  "  for  then  had 
not  this  foul  stain  faden  on  the  national  char- 
acter. But  wW  of  this  young  jackanape 
whom  EUzabe^  hath  stationed  here  ? 


■/. 


BiED   HAND   OP  ULSTER. 


AM 


O'Neill  replied  that,  notwithstanding  the 
"lightness  and  volatility  of  his  character,  and' 
his  early-formed   connection   with   English 
interests,  he  was  not  altogether  without  hopes 
of  making  something  of  him,  *'  which,"  said  T 
he,  "  I  the  rather  desire ;  forasmuch  as  I  know 
him  to  be  capable  qf  better  than  he  hath  yet 
produced.     Nature  hath  done  much  for  him." 
the  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  the 
^trance  b£  O'Reilly  himself"  who  was  in  a 
iew  minutes  conversing   as  familiarly  "with 
the  stately  chieftain  of  Arachty,  as  though 
they  had  been  for  years  acquainted. 

That  same  evening  O'Neill  was  suriMrised 
by  the  appearance  of  a  numerous  company 
of  Spaniards,  who,  having^heard  of  him  as 
the  great  chieftain  of  Ulster,  and  as  a  man 
of  noble  and  generous  disposition,  had  come 
to  crave  his  hospitality,  and  the  means  of 
returning  to  their  own  country.     There  was 
but  one  drawback   on  the  pleasure  which 
Tyrone   felt  in  receiving  these   Spaniards, 
and  that  was  the  presence  of  O'Reilly*     Yet 
his^elcome  was  a  kincland  cordial  one,  and 
highly  flaHering  to  the  strangers,  amongst 


-.1 

'■■    ■  '  l 

■  ■     .  ■ "  ■   * 

'■'    '■- 

■  1 

1 

...■    i 


184 


EBD  liAND   OF  TJLSTBB. 


^ 


whom  were  some    officers  of   high  rank. 
Bavihg  consigned  the. common  sailors  and 
soldiers  to  the  special  charge  of  his  brother, 
tc^  see  that  the  domestics  did  not  neglect 
them,  he  himself  conducted  the  officers  ta 
the  apartment  where  O'Cahan  was  suU  hst- 
ening  with  attention  to  O'Reilly's  animat|af. 
sketches  of  English  life.     Great  was  the  s^- 
prise  of  both  when  Tyrone  introduced  ihp 
Spanish  officers,  and  Miles  CB^ilfy  startei 
irom   his   seat,   his  cheek   glowmg   with*^ 
crim^  flush.      Finding  that'  none  ^  of  the 
Spaniards   could  speak  eithfer   English  or 
Irish,    O'Neill    was    obliged    to    interpret 
betw^n  them  and  O^Cahan,  who  spoke  nei- 
ther    French    nor    Spanish^     But    though 
6'Keilly  could  (if  he  chose  to  do  it)  ha^e 
conversed  with  them  ih  French,  he  now 
affected  to  be  in,  the  same  predicament  as 
O'Gahan,  and  taking  up  a  volume  <^old^ 
English  poetry  which  lay  on  *  Uble  liard 
by,l»  b6Wed^politely  but  coldly  to  the  Bipm 
iardsi  and  left  the  rooml    CyNeill  took  the 
first  opportunity  of  speakings  with  hmi  apa^-t, 

— — — — -^"^ *-^* *-_:.  . — .        .     •m.M•^ rv>P^;il«T    Vtnvt 


and  said,  **  3)hou  seest,  Miles 


O'Beaiy^hpy; 


BED  HAND  OF  TJlJsTBiU  185 

»       •■■■■■'.'■■,'  .■.•■■"    ■       ■     '   ■    ■    .• 

it-is  *itli  me;  blame  me  not,  therefore, 
Bince  thou  well  knowest  that  under  such  cir- 
eumstsuces  no   Irish,  no  Milesiau  prince, 
could  either  refuse  hospitality  or.  grant  it  in  : 
ichurhshiuanner/'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  :    r      ;^^ 

«%  lord  1  "cried  O'Reilly  with  sudden 
«i;ation,.and  he  took  the  earl's  hand  a^he 

.poke-"  my  lord,  I  '^'^^'^f^]^  , 
tered  as  I  am,  yet.  were  the  halls  of  Brefifni  s  , 
cWeflato 'mine,  and  they  to  apply  to  me^    : 

«,eyhave  to  *-•  *^^J^  ^^if ^ ^^^ I • 
tothe  best  of  my  poor  ability.    This  do  1 

•  „y  in  all  sincerity,  but  suffer  me  now  to  add 
•tl^.  as  lam  in  no  way  caUed  wontodo  the 
honors  here,  and  as  I  still  caU  myself  the 

quefcn-s  soltor.  I  would  as  soon  be  abseij^ 
■  during  the  stay  of  these  foreigners.  I  wrll. 
meanwhile,  take  a  survey  of  the  neighboring 
districts;  that  is.  if  thou  wilt  furnish  me  with 
t  letter  to  ^he  cluefg  whose  terntones  I 

woul4^e3fPlore."   ;  , ,    .„       ,• 

"It  shall  b^€one,  Miles ;  and  I  will  send 
one  or  twt)^f  my  trusty  gi^low-glasses.to^act 
as  guides.    But  why  this;  sudden  notion.— 
-     trhly  because  of  the;arrival  of. these- 


Ifl    It 


Bpaniards?*' 


■-■^ 


186 


BBP'  HAND  OF  tfLSTEB. 


..  ■  V  J.-  •       ■  •  .1 

«'  Ay,  marry,  is  it,  my  Lord  ;  but  more 
than  all,  because  I  love  not  to  be  regarded  as 
a  spy,  or  place  others  under  restraint  by  rty 
presence.  When  they  are  gone,  I  ^tiH 
return  hither,  to  perfect  niyself  in  the  duties 
oi  my  profession."  And  waving  his  hand 
with  a  sportive  air'to  O'Neill,  he  bounded 

^  frbm  the  room.  Inafewliours  after,  he  left 
Dungannon,  attended  by.  two  of  O^NeiU's 
men.  The  earl  failed  riot  to  repeat  this  con- 
versation to  O'C^han,  and  both  arrived  at 
the  conclusion,  that  either  O'Reilly  was  one 
of  the  gi-eatest  knaves  above  ground,  or  a 
young  man  who  deserved  all  that  warmth  of 
interest  which  he.  could  not  fail  to  inspire  in 
■all  who  knew  hW.     "The^  truth  is,"  said 

1  O'Neill  to  his  friend,  «  O'Rpilly  is  at  heart 
good  and  iioble,  but  he«hath  been  spoiled  by 
coi^rt^or,  and  the  admiration  everywhere 
awarded  'to  liis  rare  personal  attractions. 
God  grant ^at, we  may  not  liave  cause  to 
XKie  his  visit^hat  IS  jdl  I  shaOl  tuiw  say."  . 
Dtiring  the  two  wieks  that  the  iSpaniards 
i^d  O'Neill's: guests,  he  ^gathered  from 


r6mam( 


JPM|«»fii^<V»     V    A^y^—    -^.o / L^ : -. ___ 

tl^  much  uieM  information^     For  t^ 
^st  time  Jie  learned  t|Mi.,k^^ 


m 


■■^■i: 


■f  BUD  HA«n  OP  ULSTBK.  WT 

with  -  wh*-  their '  sovereiga  regarded  the  .-^ 
fendition   of  the  Irish  Catholics,   and  the 
plans  which  he  had  at  various  times  formed        , 
L their  assistance.     But  nothing  could  be-  .„ 
done,  he  had  alWays.^d,  until  they  tW 
.  «ave^  would  ««kSi(%*'™us  effort  to  break  ;, 

their,  shackles,  for  then  only  would^fore.gn 
rid  avail  them.   'Bight  willingly  then  d.d 
O'Neill  explain  to  theni  the  progress  he  haA^^  , 
already  made,  in  organizing  the  people  for.    ~ 
some  such  movement.     He  sho_wed  them^hi 
,ecrethoardsofammunition.and  various  oAer 

matters  required  in  war,  and  gave  a  ol^r 
though  brief  sketch  of  the  actual  prospects 

rftl^  cause.  To  aU  thif  the  Span»h  noble- 
men  listened  with  pleasure  and  surprise,  and 
^oWeered  thtit  services,  in  representing 
the  whole  affair  to  Philip  on  their  return  to 
Madrid,  they  assuted  O'NeiU  that  the 
fflen  »d mbney  of  whichhe  stood ^ ^^^ 

^^uldnotbewithh^ 
^  king;.  On£  these  terms  .they  part^  5  Tyrone  • 
Un^  conducting  them*witk  accompany  A 

•  of.  his  cavalry;  to  -tlie  moftth  of  the^Foyle, 
'      r^      ^ ^ 1 tX,A^r  o/^nnN  fonnd    ■ 


1- 


♦., 


«, 

t 


1 


t 


in  O'Cahan's  country, 


where  theiy  8O0n\ 


-.1 


■  ■  /, 

189 


BBD  HAND  OP  tLSTBE. 


an  opportunity  of  embarking  for  Fr^cte, 
wKence  it  was  easy  to  make  their  way  home. 
Father  McNaroara,  who  had  .passed  niany 


^earsitt  the  classic  halls  of  Salam'atiCa  an4 
Valladolid,  had  enjoyed  no  ordinary  pleasur^^ 

in  discour^mg  with  the  noble.  Spaniards  ;  and 
he  was  sitting  with  the.  earl,  (Who  had- bu 
just  returned,)  conversing  on  the  probability 
of  their  reaching  Spain  in  safety,  when  a 
small  billet  was  handed  to  the  latter.  It  was 
addressed  to  the^  earl  of  Tyrone,  and  when 
opened  was  foun^^o  contain  but  the^e  words, 
«  Beware  of  insidious  friends  r"<  i'l^h^ 
date  nor  name  was  seen ;  but>;aSi,tbe  earl 
glanced  over  the  solitary  line,  a  deeper  color 
mounted  to  his  cheek,  !aud  handing  the  noje 
to -the  priest,  he  simply  said,"  Those  beauti- 
ful characters  are  not  unknown  to  dther  of 

~  us  ;  inaf  I  not  look  ,;|ipcm  the  writer  as  my 
guardiaii  angel  in  mortd  form  ?  '*  He  aro^e" 
:and  walked  away,  butTBiot  before  the  chaplain 
noticed  a  sort  of  trepidation  iSi  Jiis  manner 
very  unusual  iAbim.  What  prayer  was  it 
that  ascended 'from  the  heart  of  that  pious 


priest,  when  his  lips  moved,  and  bis  eyes 
timied  iipward  wit^  a  supplicatory  glance?. 


■  *>.?'W 


' ..{' 


~       Kb  HASP  <W   P»'S'«'-  /'*     • 

Itt  the  course  of  1.  following  ^ay,  O'NeiU 
had  a  visit  frbm  a  cou«n,  a  natural  son  of 
SWe  O'J^eiU,  whom  he  had  »°t.-en  «nce 
hU^aa«guration  at  TuHaghoge.  «^^— 
Hugh  nToaveloch  (otth-^fetters)  had  hceu 
rn/of  the  most  forward  ikpay.ng  homage 
TthenewchieMn.    On  the  present _occa-^ 

rion,  nothing  could,  e^iual  the  warmth  of  h^^ 
professions  of  friendship,  yet,  ex^n         ^ 
Lningof  his  coucealed  friend  never  been 
^en,  lyrone  had  hi.d.ru  times  p^^ 

Lt  cause  to  distrust  the  «»»"•      H^;'^| 

teefore.  on  his  8""^ ;  and  when    m. the 

■rurseofthe.evemng.naGavelochbrpu^' 

round  the  political  topics  of  the  day.  and 

;aked,  though  aftrr  -  -«g-"V™nS 
of  the  exepution  of  McMahon,  and  the  kid- 
Iring  of  younk  O'Donnell,  tl,e  ch>ef 
"S^  told'him  that  *ose_^-^ 
rhich  no  good  subject  was  -»  l>berty^to  dxs 
c;^.    "So'ra^ertellussomepassag^pf  a 

merry  liature,  that  may  set  -  f ''-»''"8^8^; 
.Hugh  na  Gaveloch  grinned  from  ear  to 

;^:fi^he  seldom  l^g^^^'^;"^'^^']^';. 
WchucUed   out.    "mjTBOble    cousm.- 


I 

■•r 


^  -i 


m 


140 


^ED 


HAND   OF  ULSTSR. 


jpleased^o  make  merry  at  my  expense,  but, 
surely,  all  his  guests  are  not  called  upon  to 
make  .food  for  merriment — methinks  they 
are  at  times  entertained  with  graver  mattec/*^ 

"But  men's  moods  will  vary,  Hugh," 
said  tke  earl  jocularly,  "  and  mine  is  now 
for  mirthi  Pri'thee, ,  slide  into  the  same 
humor,  and  it  will  benefit  thee  ndt  a  little." 

"Truly,  yes,  cousin/*  chimed  in  Cormac, 
who  was  also  present,  "a  good  laugh  would 
go  far  to  take  from  thee  that  gloomy  cast  of 
countenance,  and  I.  warrant  thee,  it  would 
shorten  thy  face  by  half  an  ell," 

"This  is  all  passing  well,  cousins  mine," 
retorted  the  dark-browed  na  Gaveloch,  with 
a  bitter  sneer — "  but  I  came  not  hither  to  be^ 
inade  a  laughing-stock,  even  for  the  great 
earl  of  Tyrone— the  mighty  leader  that  is  to 
be  I  •  Dost  thou  hear  anything,  Cormac  Mac 

,Bafon?"*.' ■■■■.;.■■         ■':■■■  i:^^\;^-yy;\:... 

:*'  That  M  t,  thou  black-hearted  knave  ! " 

^eried  Cormac,  starting  to  his  feet,  *'  and  if 

liiy'  brother  only  gives  the  word,  I  will  take 


*  The  sop  of  the  baron; 


•»/ 


y  '■'■  ■ 


S»'^ 


KBD  HAND  OF  ULSTER* 


Ul 


thee  by  the  neck  and  souse  thee  within  an  ; 
inch  of  thy  life's  end,  in  the  duck-pond  I" 
He  was;  actually  springing  towards  na  Gave-  - 
JiKjh  when  the  earl  caught  him  by  the  arm." 
**  Nay,  brother,  it  must  not  be  '•  so— the 
lian  1^^^^^^^  Then,iurning  to  na 

.^aveloch,  with  ineffable  dignity,  he  said  :  , 
M Go  hence,  Hugh  na  Gaveloch  (mind,  I, 
call  thee  not  O'Neill!)— go  hence  untouched 
-^unharmed,  and  I  pray  thee  make  n^more 
Tisits  here  while  I  am  master  of  this  house, 
See  that  this  man  depart  fbrthwith! "  ^  he 
ssdd  to   Phelim  and  Henderson  #rho  just 

then  entered.  \  ^     ^    '  ^-' 

Na  Gaveloch  arose,^  and  walked  m  silence 
to  the  door,  hisNwhole  frame  ti6mbll%  with 
anger,  and  hiS  fece  of  a  gha^y  white;  but 
when  he  had  reached  the  threshold  he  turned, 
feck,  and  shaking  his  clenched^st  at  T^ne, 
whettTh^  sat,  apparently  unmoved,  he  said, 
in  a  voice  hoarse  with  passion,  *^Thou  art 
cunning  as  a  fox,  Hugh  O'NeiU,' but  even 
the  fox  m^y  be  taught! "     The  earl  only 
laughed  y^  kept  a  faster  hold  on  his  brother, 
who    struggled   to   escape.      So  Hugh  lia 


■-\% 


r 


■r 


i. 


■3  ■■■J 


'■'*■"*'■ 


uie 


KSDl  HAND  OF  ULSTBR 


Gaveloch  made  his  exit,  having  gained  little 
infonnation  by  his  visit.       ,> 


CHAPTER    V. 


-"  T  have  hMird  mitnjr  my 


I«ot«  ll?M  on  hope  ;  they  knew  not  what  they  Wdd  i  ^ 

Hope  U  tove'i  h»p|>in«M  but  not  its  iifr' i— 
UowDUoyheftrte  hsTe  nourinh«d  a  rain  flame 
In  altenoe  ano  In  iecret,  though  they  knew  ,'   > 

Thry  fad  the  worchlng  fljre  that  would/oonsuma  them  I  ^* . . 
,     ■  ^iF  .  ,\'.     ■■'•'-^.       L.  B.  ^Dow.  ■  ;.^ 

Ott  the  following  day  the  eajl,  taking! 
advantage  of  pQ'Reilly's  protracted  absence, 
aet  out  to  visit  certain  chiefs  who  had  not 
yet  joined  the  confederacy.  Of  this  number 
was  the  Magetinis,  lord  of  Iveagh,  (now  the 
county  of  Dowa,)  ^h6,  being  a  powerful 
chieftain,  and j  moreover,  a  mj^n  of  strong, 
sound  mind,  his  adhesion  ,wdu)ld  have  beejl 
of  vast  importance  to  the  cajise.  0*Neifl 
then  paid  him  a  visit,  and  wa^  attended  in;  a 
manner  suitable  to  his  rank,  being  desirous 
to   show  Magennis  that  the  reports  every- 


where  spread  of  the  number  and  high  tnttn- 
ing  of  iifl  troops  was  nothing  exaggerated. 


»       ■  i.  ' 


RED   HAND   OP   ULSTER, 


ui 


His   reception   was   in   the   highest    degree 

flattering  to  his  hopes  ;  for  the  chieftain  of 

^feigh^  WW  kind   even   to   cor^ality,   and 


respedtful  almost  to  reverence,  and  on  having 

the  mattt^r  fully  explained  as'^yrone  only   . 

could  explain  it,  he  at  once  eipreased  his*^ 

willingness  to  join  in  sa  noble  an  enterprise, 

and  promiaed  to  lose  no  time  in  making  his 

prepamtions.     Whilst  they  were 'engaged  in 

thit  almubing  topic,  the  door  was  thrown 

ofiD  and    a    sweet,  laughing    face    peeped 

in,  while  a  clear,  merry  voice   called   out, 

"Father,  my  mother  praj^  thee  to  bring  the 

O'Neill  to  our  evening  rft^eal — of  a  truth,  ye 

must  have  been  strangely  occupied,  for  it 

hath  been  announced  at  least  halfan  hour 

since.     Am  I  to  go  back  alone?'*    -  V 

"Nay,  daughter,"  said  the  chieftain,   "I 

would  tb0tt  wert  not  so  wild  in  thy  speech 
and  beating ;  btit  we  com6  ;"  then,  turning 
to  his  noble  guest,  he  asked,  ^*  M^  I  not 
say  so,  most  noble  O'Neill ?•/     ^7T^^^^^ 

^  Surely,  yes,"  said  the  earl,  arising  from 
Jiis  seat,  but  his  eyes  followed  the  fairy  form 
which  was  even  then  llittmg;  .acrosai  the  wide 


4 


i» 


?>;f-«t 


'    11 


I 


/I   ■■' 


^ 


Jr.-. 


144 


ItED  HAND  («P  tJlST^R. 


hall  before  them— "  but  w\^o  is  that  graceful 
creature,  Magennis  ?    Is  she  thy  daughter  ? '' 
^*  Even  so,"  replied  Magennis,  with  a  grat- 
ified smile,  as  he  looked  after  the  beautiful 
girl,  **4t  is  my  daughter  Catharina,  one  of 


thb  wildest  and  ^lerriest  lasses  in  all  leister. 
I  pray  thee  take  "iio4ieed  of  her  misdoings, 
or  of  her  lack  of  gravity ;  for  she  is  but  young, 
.only  sixteen."  t ;.  \,..-^-.  ___:;j;:,:'. ._:::::•'-  V:-, 

"  Nay,  my^  good  friend,"  returned  the  earlj 
in  all  sincerity,  "  he  were  indeed  a  merciless/ 
judge  who  would  condemn  word  or  apt  of  sc/ 
fair  a  creature."     During  the  few  hours  that 
Tyrone  spent  at  the  castle  of  Magennis,  he 
discovered,  in  the^  beautiful  Gatharina,  the 
germ  of  many  excellwit  qualities,  and,  when 
the  time  of  his  departure  was  come,  jhe,  in  ^^ 
taking  leave  of  the  chieftain,  congratulated- 
him  on  this  rich  domestic  treasure.     Eight 
glad  was  Magennis  to  hear  these  praises  of 
his  child  from  one  whose  judgment  carried 
nauch   weight,   and  doubly  so  as  he  had  a 
design  in  view  which  O'lS^eill's  undisguised 
admiration  of  his  daughter  seemed  to  favor. 
Having  made  his  proposed  visits,  and  gained 


BED  HAMD  or  tJLSTBE. 


145 


tvo^  or  tliree  influential  noWemen  to  the 
cause,  Q'NeiU  returned  home,  whiter  he 
l>ad  scarcely  arrived  when  he  received  a  fet- 
ter from  Magennis,  to  the  effect  that  nothing 
would  ^ve  him  more  pleasure  than  an  alii- 
ifluie  with  the  O'NeiU.     "  If  my  daughter  be 
as  pleasing  in  thy  sjght,"  he  wrote,  "  as  thou 
diast  give  me  to  understand,  thou  mayest 
have  het^  in  welcome,  and  a  dowry  at  whic^ 
even  a  prince  may  not  sneer.     The  truth  is," 
hevadded,  with  more  candor  than  delicacy  or 
-prudence,  « the  truth  is,  that  thy  fine  speejchea 
hap  turned  the  girFs  head,  and  she  ^iW 
iJeitthat  there  never  was  another  lit|e  to 

.'thee."'-.-  ■■■  f^-:-  ■••■ 

This  wis  a  mostpainful  embarrassment)!  fo^ 

O'Neill,  who,  with  all  his  admiration  of  \the 
feir  daughter  of  Magennis,  had  never,  fdr  a 
moment,  thought  of  her  as  a  wife,     True,  ^ 
had  been  for  the  ^moment  fasein^ed  by  li^r 
fairy  loveliness,  and  the/Bylph-like  grace  pf 
her  motions,  and  not  less  by  the  playful  sal- 
lies  of  her  wit ;  and  then  the  alliance  6^ 
Magennis  was  in  itself  niiich  to  be  eovetedj 
particularly  now,  when  it  behoove^  him  t<i 
10  ^ i 


\ 


\- 


146 


BED  HAND  OF  UESTEB. 


gather  around  him  a  nucleus  of  native  nobil- 
ity and  :?realth.     But  then,  when  he  lasked 
himself;  Gould  he  conscientiously  ofier  his 
hand  to  the  lady  Qatharina?  from  the  depths 
of  his  heart  came  ah  answer  back,— -a  iiega- 
tive  so  forceful  and  so  decided  as  to  starUe 
even  himself:     In  vain  did  polijfy  remind 
him  that  he  was,  in  all  probaWlity,  about  to 
'  make  an  enemy  for  himself;  and  still  T^orse 
for  the  national  cause ;  again  came  the  deep, 
internal  voice,— **  It  must  be  done  ;  there  is 
^  no  alternative."     So  he  sat  down  and  penned 
*  a  letter  to  Magennis,  in  which  he  expressed 
his  de6p  regret  that  it  was  not  in  his  power 
to  accept  the  proposed  honor,  of  who§e  value 
none  could  be  more  sensible,  and,  in  order 
to  propitiate  the  Jiaughty  chieftain,  or  rather 
to  deprecate  his  anger^  he  laid  open  to  him 
the  secret  cause  wjbicH  forbade  him  to  accede 
'  ^  the  proposal,  flattering  as  he  knew  and 
V felt  it  to  be*^  In  conclusion,  he  hoped  that 
this  would,  iti  no  Way  interfere  with  their 
i^wly-formed  friendship,  as  it  would  sharpeu^ 


the  pain  he  felt  even  to  acute  ap^guish^v^re 
BO  powerful  a  chieftahi  tO  keep  aloof  from 


%-' ' 


BBD  HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


147 


the  great  cause  through  any  misunderstand- 
ing with  him.     Several  days  passed  before 
any  reply  came  from  Magennis,  and,  when  it 
did  come,  it  was  couched  in  a  few  cold  but 
emphatic  words,--*VEVen  though  not  allied, 
by  any  enduring   tie,  to  CNeill,  Magennis 
of  iveagh^s  none  the  less  a  lover   of  hia  ^, 
country,  and  a  hater  of  the  foreign  oppressor  ; 
his  promise  once  given  is  not  lightly  broken."  - 
Considerably   relieved   by  thi»  answer  of 
Magennis,  the  earl  could  now  afford  to  think 
of  O'Reilly,  whose  absence  had  now  extended 
to  several  weeks,  and  yet  no  word  from  him, 
nor  had   he   sent   back  the  two   attendants 
given  him.     While  his  mind  was  still  occu-: 
pied    with  fruitless   conjectures   concerning 
O'Reilly,  a   flourish   of  martial  music   was 
heard  outside,  and  quickly  he  was  informed 
that  a  messenger  from  the  lord  deputy  desired 
'speech  with  his  lordship.     This  courier  was 
escorted  by  a  party  of  some  score  of  dra- 
goons, and  was  the  bearer  of  a  despat^i  to  the 
earl  of  Tyrone.     Sending  the  courier  and  his 
escort  to  receive  refreshments,  O'Neill  hast- 
ened  to  open  the  packet,  which  he  found  to 


f" 


I 


^ 


■ ,.    /• , 


-  V',-  ■ :. 


( 


148 


RED  HAND^  07  ULSTER. 


4 


contain  a  formal  citation  to  appear  on  a  cer- 
tain: day^efqre  the  d(^ty .  in  council,  to 
"answer  various  cbarges  brought  against  him 
by  one  Hug^ O'Neill,  snrnamecl  na  Gaveloch. 
There  was  also  a  coi)y:-of  the  deposition,  in 
which  ^is   |cc\iser    offered  Xo   rn^ke  good 
his   charge,  either  by  meeting  the  accused 
in    single    combat;,   at    a    place*    and-   time  , 
appoiiited  b3r^the    lord  deputy,  or   other- 
wise   to    give    public     testimony   in     any 
court  of  justice.    Fitzwilliam  had  rejected;  it  * 
would. appear,  the  offer  of  deciding  the  iftat-* 
ter  by  an  appeal  to  arms,  but  Tyrone.was  . 
summoned  in  the  most  authoritative  manner 
to  appear  at  the  appointed  time  in  order 'to 
stand  his  trial.  In  conclusion,  he  was  warned,  ' 
on  peril  of  the4ieaviest  penalty,  not  to  iail.     * 

Whetf^'Neill  had  gone  quite  through  the 
precious  documents,  his  first  emotion  was  that 
of  indignation,  not  so  much  against  Fitzwilliam 
as  the  wretch*  na  Gaveloch ;  but  very  soon  the 
stern  look  had  Vanished  from  his  eye,  and  a 
smile  of  singular  meaning  played  around  his 
mouth.     tJnder  '  the  impulse  of  the  latter 


feeling,  whatever  it  might  be,  he  drew  to 


4   S 


jiVD  HAND   OF  tJL8TBil, 


im 


■V 


htm  Htsi^iting  apparatus.^apd  |addresa«U  to 
ritzwilliam'thip  following  pithy. letteft." 
*^   «  a:his  i&  to  let  the  lord  deputy  knWiJiat:     . 
the  O'Neill   does  not  ohoose'^o  accept/ his    ^ 
courteous  invitation*  ^V^f  Hugh 
hkve  any  thing  to  say  to  hita,4etihim  come    - 
forward  here  on  the  soil  4)f  XJlster,  and  sub- 
stentiate  his   ciiarge|'tiie   O'Smfl  wi^^ 
'  prepaid  witlTA  fitjtiri^  reply.,    To.^I>uhli^ 
.  he  wiljl  not^  repair  at  tids  present  time,  .as 
V  matters  of  imppnsmc^Te^        Us  presence  at' 
hom€t--^iid/4ifor  the  threateued  punishment,  . 
in  case  of  .defeult,  he  hath  a  back  to  bfear  it* 
Giveu  at  Pungat^uQiS,  under  my  hand  aiid  * 
:'8eal.'^^^■.:^-■.■-^■■''■-  ^:;;;^r::-  -:;;.. 'l^;:.■  ■■;•':.:■ 

Wiiati  storm  of  CQnffic;tihg  pasM^ 
this  iiiilooked-for  answer  call  forth  in  •Dublin 

l-sdme  wem  filled  i^th;r^r(M 
these  was  Fitzwilliam  hinyelf;).  while  others  ; 
$Uly  exulted^iia^i^  the  wily  ^rl  had,  at  ; 
length,  committed  himselfl    In,  the  midst  of 
ail  this  tumult,  na  Gafeloch  ^t  out  for  the 
north,  acting  on  Eit^wi^iam's8Uggestiou,,or: 

rather  command^  and,  being  arrivcld  .at  his 
OTO  rmdence;  sent  tals^rm  the  e^  that  he 


•■■  ■  .^<l 


16&        **  BED   HAND  OF  UlSTBR. 


was  ready  td  mate  good  his 'accusation  before 
any  lawful  au|hority.  The  result  was  very 
different  from  his  calculatiori8,^or,  on  that 
same  evening,  he  was  arrested  by  D'HeiU's 
order,  and  cast  into  prisony  to  be  tried  fot  a 
treasonable ;  conspiracy  against  hi*  lawful 
chief.  In  vain  did  he  threaten  the  avenging 
power  of  the  government,  and  refuse  to  be 
tried  by  the  ancient  laws,  as  being  an  Eng- 
lish subject  ;\  no  such  subterfi^ge  could  save 
Hm  froni  his  well-merited  punishment,  and 
he  was  condemned  by  the  higliest:  authority 
in  Ulster.  ;But,however  just  wais  the  sen-: 
nee  of  v4eiath  pi^noanced  upon' him,  and, 
though  the  piriople,  with  one  accord,  acknowl- 
edged ita  justice,  yet  could  n^^oAe  .be  found 
to  execute  it:  every  one  shrihkirteirith  hor- 
ror from  shedding  the  blood  of' one  who  bore,- 
(however  unworthily,)  the  honored  name  of 
O'Neill.  Executions  of  this  kind  wpre  so 
rare^that  there  was  no  regular  official  for  the 
purpose,  and  foe  some  time  it  was  thought 
that  the  culprit  must  receive  some  milder 
punishment.  But  those  who^thought  so.  little 
knew  of  the  stern  inflexibility  of  their  chief. 


f\v-^:: 


bk6  hanb  of  tjlstbr. 


151 


^vhen  believing  his  resolve  i  right  one,  and  ^ 
:«retw«)  days  had  elapsed;  after  the  sentence 
was  pronounced,  the  wretched  na  Gaveloch 
9uflfered^ife    prescribed     penalty.     Some 
in^iterl  sayiVthat,  soonw  have  justice 

robbed  of  it8\right^  the^  chieftain,  himself, 
was  compelled  to  execute  the  judjcial  sei^-; 
•  tence ;  but  this  fact  is  by  no    means    well 
mttested,  and,  sUch  being  the  case,  1  am  Mn 
*^  beli^jre  that  he  w^  noi  reduced  to  so 
Qievous  a  strait  as  that  of   becoming  the 
executioner  of  his  b?^se  Mnsman.       f^ 

A  few  day 8  "after,  when  anothe^  messenger 
arrived  from  Fitzwilliam;  with  a  still  more 
Imperative  summions,T;yroi^  ^ut^^  end  to 
the  matter,  as  far  a^  himself  ^1^ 
by  tose itonic  Unes  r  **  T^  ivreteh,  v^^     ' 
maMous  accusations  were  §aread^ly  received 
ag^nst  me;^has.4r€?ady' 8uffer(|^ 
penalty  of  the  law^'lor  tre^  against  his 
chiefl     For  ^e  r^^^ 

meiages  as  these;  or  it  ma^  far0  hardly  with 
those  wK8  bear  them.'*  And,  sooth  to  say, 
he  was  troubled  no  farther  at  that  time,  for,. 


so 


astounded  were  Fitzwilliam,  ani  the  cliijue 


A 


BED  •  H Ain)  OF  ULSTEB. 


/• 


.1 


1513 


who  governed  with  him,  by  tljis  bold  step  of 
O'Neill,  that  thej^  feared  to  /exasperate  him 

?rther.      It  was/  by  then^i  /i^upposed  that 
yrone  would  never  have  /e^itured  to  do  as 
he  had  now  done,  Had  he  not  feltlbimself  in 
a  condition  to  reiist  ,^very  measure  which 
might  tend  to/bri^g^im  to  trial.     Even  the 
queen,  herself,  liirhen  tbe  subject  was '  laid 
'  before  her,  was  inclined  to  the  same  opinion, 
and  commanded  that  no  further  notice  should 
now  be  taken  ctf  the  affair  ;  "  for,"  said^she. 
m  her  cosirse  way,  "  it  would  only  rouse  the 
erpuch^g  mastiff ;  let  us,  then;  wait  a  little, 
and  we  may /  after  all,  catch  him  napping." 
.  p*Neill  w^    isi  from  being  deceived  by 
this  apj)aren^    forgetfulnes8,"for  none  better 
/than  he  Ipiew  the  wiles  ^  English  policy ; 
and,  in  Met,  the  very  impression  that  his  con- 
.  duct  had  produced  was  the  very  one  he  had 
hiid  inyview.    Meanwhile  he  redoubled  his 
exertions,  and  day  after  day  saw  hjs  prepara-V 
^^ns /Striding  on  towards  maturity.     N^  aid 
hadVas^  yet    arrived    from  Spain,   though 
repi^ated  promises  were  given,  through  the 

agjents  whom  Tyrone  sent  thither,  nor  1w9a 

-  — '- —         -  /-  ^— 


.gpr 


/ 


\ 


BKD  HANB  OF  XJL9TBR. 


158 


If.---. '. 


there  yet  any  sign  of  a  reraction  m  Tyrcon- 
Bell,  for  Red  Hugh  was  still  a  prisoner  in 
Dublin^  J  ^S^8o  widely  had  the  |6af;ue 
spread  over  the  land,  and  so  Itctive  wer5  its 
varipus  Members,  in  inakrng  the;  needful 
preparations,  that  even  O'.Neill,  with  all  his 
cautious  foresight,  felt  justified  in  hoping, 
that  he  might  soon  hazard  a  public  atteiipt> 

well  knowing  th^t  many  who  now.  hung  back^  . 
wo!*ld  rush  forward  At  the  first  clash  of  arms 

'to  ratige  thelnselvei?  under  his  standard.    ,      ; 

Being  desirous  |o  confer  in^erson  ^  with 
the  heads  of  the  confederacy^  sent  to  invite 
them  all  to  assemble  at  his^^use,  on  a  t^- 
tain  day  of  the  foUowSg  week.  That  same 
evening,  as  he  sat,  lost  in  thbught,  while  his 
sister,  in  her  girlish  glee,  romped  around  tltie 
wide  chamber,  with  the  two  children.  Father 

^  McNamara  made  his  appear^c^,  ahdiaftei: 
chatting    over    some    trifling    matters,    he  ^ 
beckoned  the  eart  to  the  further,  end  X)f  the j 

'  xoom/ where  a  door  opened  into  a  imall  cabi- 
net. A /^-Jl  silver  lamp  l)urned  on  the 
polished/oaken  table,  (which,  with  one  high- 
backei^  chairi'  formed  the  fujniitore  ai  the 


<:-^ 


/*■■■ 


154 


HAND   Of   VtSTEIU 


place,)'  and,  bf  its  pale  light,  the  earl  saw 
that  something  of  importance  weighed  on  the 
priest's  mincU^^-^ — •  '  '    -■•  '■••'.,".,  -^  ■;■'.■  ;  ' 


**  In    God's    na:me,"   he   said,   earnestly,, 
"tell  me,  father,  whut  hath  happened?" 

"Nay,  nothing  of  evil  import>  my  son,'^ 
returned  the  priest  with  a  smile,  ^^  it  would 
seem  that  Gpd,  in  his  mercy^  hath  deigned  to 
hear    our    prayers,    for    this    day   I    have 
received,  through  that  faithful  Hett^erson,  a 
message   from    the    lady   Araholla   Bagfnal, 
requesting  me  to  meet  her  at  a  place  which 
she  hdth  named,  without  the  walls  of  Newry, 
on   a  matter  which   concerneth   her   soul'g 
welfare.     To-morrow  I  set  out,  with  GodV 
help,    as    the    day   following    is    the    One 
appointed  by  the  lady  for  thte  meeting/*     ^ 
"it  is  well,"  replied  the  earl,  after  a  brief 
pause,  "but  the  intelligence  doth  give  me 
no  surprise,  seeing  that  1  have  had  from  the 
first  an  inward  assiirance  that  a  being'  so 
noble,  so  elevated  above  all  prejudice,  having, 
besides,  the  advantage  of  thy  prayers,  could 


not  but  arrive  at  the  truth.*'     And,  to  the 
great  surprise  of  the  good  priest,  he  suddenly 


BSD  HAND  OF  XTtSTER. 


iw 


put  an  end  to  the  Conference,  by  leading  tha 
way  into  th6  room  which  they  had  left. 
When  there,  he  afforded  not  a  moment  for 


any  private  conversation,  occupying  himself 
almost  entirely  with  the  children.     Never^    .     ! 
theless,  he  earnestly  requested  that  Father 
McNamara  would  give  them  his  ^company 
for  a  few  hours,  *'  for,"  said  he,  with- a  cheer- 
ful smile,  **  we  have  much  of  interest  to  talk 
over  at  this  particular  juncture."     The  priest 
signified  his  consent  by  a  silent  bow,  for  he 
was  turning  over  and  over  in  his  mind  the. 
almost  impenetrable  (iijaracter  of  his  noble   ^^ 

patron.  ■  ^     ...  ■■   ■'■■  ■•   '-;.■■  •.\- 

,.    Next  morning,  the  j^riest  set  forth  alone,      « 

without  a  single  word  of  greeting  from  the  , 
earl  to  the  lady  Arabella,  and  in  his  heart  he  t" 
felt   grieved  and  disappointed,  for  he  had    v 
been  pluming  himself  on  producing  a  far       V 
different  effect   by  his  late  communication. 
<«  But  even  so  it  eiret  is  .with  hopes  based  on     ,^ 
mortals,"  murmured- the  good  chaplain  to  ^j^ , , 

himself;  as  he  journeyed  on;  "they  are,  as 
it  were,  written  on  the  sand  of  the  sea -shore,    — 
to  be  washed  away  by  the  first  swell  of  the 


.a 


&■ 


m-  /      .Ht 


#^r/ 


*  K. 


156 


KKP   HAND   OF  tJLSTER. 


waves.  Alasl  alas!  "  and  on  he  went  with 
a  desponding  heart,  notwithstanding  his 
hopes  of  the  lady*8  conversion.  •".':.■;  ■■'  '^'  ' 
On  reaching  the  phkGc  of  meeting,  Father 
McNamara  found  that  the  lady  wil  not  yet 
arrived,  and  be  entered  into  conversation 
with  the  good  people  of  the  house.  He 
ascertained  that  the  woman  was  a  good  and 
pious  English  Catholic,  who,  having  «been 
long  in  the  service  of  the  lady  Arabella,  was, 
under  God,  one  great  means  of  prepossess- 
ing her  in  favor  of  the  religion  she  professed, 
and  not  only  professed,  but  illustrated  by 
her  rare  virtues.  Her  husband  was  an 
Irishman,  of  O'Hanlon's  clan,  who,  having 
been  some  time  employed  about  Bagnal's 
house,  sayr  and  loved  the  pretty  Dorothy. 
They  had  been  but  a  few  months  married, 
and,  l>y  Arabella's  liberality,  were  enabled  to 
erect  a  neat  cottage  some  two  or  three  miles 
from  Newry,  on  a  waste  moor,  which 
stretched  along  by  the  side  of  a  venerable 
forest.  Though  Murtough  O'Btanlon  was, 
6n  the  whole,  a  good  young  man,  yet  his 
prudent  wife  feared  to  trust  a  secret  of  so 


\ 


' .      much  ir 

therefor 

» . .  ■ 

on  that 

town. 

It  wc 

tap  was 

opened, 

nied  b 

^      duced  t 

norWi 

exceed! 

versati( 

but  Ai 

■     inform] 

her  coi 

she  nc 

pie,  ai 

tion^ 

■      drew  \ 

^          orderxl 

either 

briefly 

BED  HAND  OF   UL8TBR. 


157* 


.  ^A' 


much  importance  to  his  discretion,  anfl  had, 
therefore,  contrived  to  have  him  lea^  hpn* 
onlSit^clay  to  transact  some  business  in  fpr— 
'town..,  ■■•..:(,...  .\r  ■::■■■  ■■■m:T^:m/^^^ 

It  was  still  early  in  the  day  when'^a  low  ,<* 
tap  was  heard  at  the  door,  and,  on  iu  being 
opened,  Arabella  Bagnal  entered,-  accompai: 
nied  by  an  elderly  lady,  whom  she  intro- 
duced  to  the  priest  as  her  cousin,  Mrs.  Elea^ 
nor  Wilmot.     Father  McNamara  waj  at  first 
exceedingly  reserved  in  his  manner  and  con- 
versation, owing  to  the  A|nce  of  this  lady ; 
but  Arabella  speedily  dSSpated  his  fears  by 
informing  him,  with^a  smile,  that,  though 
her  cousin  was  a  stanch  Protestant,  yet  had 
she  no^  hatred  fOr   popery   or  popish  peo* 
pie,  ilk  was  fully  cognizant  of  her  inten- 
tion.    Nevertheless,  the  kind  old  lady  with- 
drew with  Dorothy  to  an.  inner  chamber,  in 
orderxto  leave  the  conference  unrestrained  on 
either  side.     Arabella  then  told  the  priest  as 
briefly  as  possible,  that,  having  been  induced, 
by  some  secret   inspiration,  to  examine  the 
old  religion  at  length,  she  had  contrived  to  pro- 
"cuxe  some  works  purely  e;^te^ts?y  of  Ca^o- 


s 


c ,. 


;iMi« 


t. 


168 


I^ED  HA^ND  OF  ULSTER. 


\^ 


VV-: 


?i.. 


■.Wil- 


lie iocttine;  and  had  thence  learned  to  view  it 
as  ii  really  was,  not  as  prejudice  and  error 
]jiade  it  appear.     The  consequence  was>  that 
iihe  was  ready  to  ei^brace  its   doctrines  at 
every  risk,  and  begged  Father  McNamara  to 
taket  the  necessary  steps  for  her   admission 
into   the,  church.     On  hearing  this  siinple, 
iinvarni^ed  stateuient,  tvhich  Arabiella  ,pul|| 
forth  with  a  touching  earnestness^  and  mod-? -^ 
est  candor  which  belonged  peculiarly  to  her- 
self, the  good  priest  felt  his  heart  glow  with 
gratitude  to  that  Almighty  Fathery  who  ha<^ 
'so  visibly  moved  this  pure  sdul  to.  seek  the 
truth,  and   the    tears  rolled  unheeded  from 
his   eyes^  as   he   raised  them   to  heaven  in 
hufhble  Si|>ration.     Father.  McNamara  knew 
well  what   a  fearful   risk^  he  rdn  by  being 
instrumental  in;  receiving  iconvert^;  ye^he 
shrank  not  fiom  it,  dnd  carefully  concealed 
the  fact  from  Arabella,  who  seemed,  to  he 
unaware  that  any ^greatier;  danger  accrued  to' 
him  from  baptizing  her,  than  from- any  other 
function  ■  pf .  his   ministry.     As  this  *  part  of 
their  conversatipn^di'ew  to  a  close,  Arabella 
had  opened  the  door  to; look  out  upon  the 


4*- 


#'"    ' 


'\: 


BSD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


160 


■■'wl|  ■ 


moor,,  and  proposed  to  the  priest  that  tjiey 
should  adjourn  .to  the  open   air,  a^ MM^oCSta. 
tage,  being   small,   was   exceedingly  close, 
while  the  atmosphere  without  was  charged  J 
with  balmy  odors,  and  fresh  witK.the' breath 
of  spring  ;  beside?,  there  ^as  no  more  daflger 
of  being  discovered  than  if  they  .remained  in 
the  house.    •  The  good  priest  made  no  object -- 
tion,  and  together  they  walked  to  and  fro, 
ju|t  at  the  end  "of  the  cottage>  where^  it  was 
shaded  from  view  by  ai^  advancing  group  of 
old  oak  treesi  the  far|thest  projection  of  the   . 
forest.     Insensibly,   perhaps,   to    both,   the 
cpnversatioti  glided  from  religious  to  more 
worldly  matters,  and  the  priest,  in  his  pater- 
nal manner,  noticed  a  certain  air  of  melan- 
choly visible   on  the  features   of  Arabell*. 
"  How  is  it,  nly  daughter,"  he  said,  « that  I 
fiiid  thee   bearing  ^  so   dejected   an   aspect?* 
Surely  thou  art  not  appalled  by  the  danger 
attending  thy  proposed  change  of  religion  ?  **\i 
**^Nayi  father,   not  so  I'*    returned    Ara- 
Jbella  quickly,  while  a  soft  blush  4nounted  to 
her  face,—-**  thou  needst  not  fear  my  resblu--' 
Uon ;  for,  by  jGrpd's  grace,  it  is  strong  enougli 


i!»'l 


1 


■I' 


'k:'y- 


!#■:„ 


■■%' 


160  c     ^    '   KBD  HAND  OF  XJLSTBB. 

to  bear  toe  t^Tough  all ;  but  we  worldlings" 
-^and  sW  sighed  as  she  spoke— "  we  world- 
lings are,  like  Martha  of  old,  troubled  about 
many  things,  alas !  many  things,  tha^^oncern 
not  our  salvation/V  '  " 

*«  I  would,  then,"  said  the  venerable  priest; 
and  he,  too,  sighed,  ^^  that  it  were  mine  to 
administeif  consolation  to  one  whose  generous 
interference  saved^B(^fe.     But  I  dare  not; 
even  uiquire  into  thi^cret  sorrow,  whatever 
it  may  be,  lest,  pert;hance,  mine  inquiry  might 
not  be  pleasing  to  my  benefoctress."       -       r 
"And  yet  thou  mightest  have  freely  put 
the  question,  my  r^erend  father,"  said  Ara- 
V  bella  again,  "*^I  will  t^ll  thee  even  with- 
out asking.     My  brother  liath  entered  into  a 
treaty  of  marriage  for  me  which  I  have  no  mind 
to  ratify,  andhe  waieth  wroth  at  my  repeated 

refusal/*  ■ '•/■■  ^/'\-.''.:-'-'--'^"-'-,''^ 

"  And  is  the  husband  whom  he  woiild  give 
theeso  very  objectionable^?"  demanded  the 

priest,; '■■-■■■'■'. '-■-  '•''"■/\'';' 

♦•Nay,  I  know  not  what  is  his  true  character, 
though  hehathbeen  my  brother*8  guest  some 


RED   HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


161 


need  wi^,  and  hatE,  to  all  appN^arancev  been 
familiar  with  the  great." 

"And  his  reiigion,— ^  is,  of  cdurse,  an 
orthodox  Protestant?"  ^  ^  _ 

«Now  that,"returnedArabeIla,  is  just  the 
grand  point  in  which  he  baffles  all  my  pen- 
etration. He  is  a  regular  church-goer,  and, 
when  with  my  brother,  talks  of  little  else 
but  the  abominations  of  popery,  and  the  light, 
forsooth,  which  the.  Keformation  hath  cast 
upon  the  World.     To  hear  him,  then,  surely 

one  would  think  that  he   believed  Master 

■■'.-^'  ■ '  • "  ■ ' 

"Cranmer  and  his  colleagues  the  greatest  ben- 
efactors that  ever  mankind  had."  But,  nev- 
er^eless,  I  have  heard  him,  at  sundry  times, 
whjjp  he  though^  himself  out  of  my  brother's 
hearings  treat  th^se  very  men,  and  that,  great 
event,  as  scourges  sent  upon  th^  earth  for 
man's  punishn^ent.  Ay,  and  truly  he  talked 
then  with  singular  bitterness.  On  the  whole, 
I  love  not,  nor  respect  the  man!"    / 

**It  is  somewhat  strange,"  said  the  priest, 
musingly.  TCjan  there,  then,  be  two  such 
characters?" 


.!» 


1/ 


II 


.«'  . 


mmmmmi 


*■  • 


162 


KBD  HAND  OP  ULSTER, 


— wTiat?     Knowest    ttou    any    tiling   of 

himr^  • 

"Nay,  daughteir  I  say  not  that  Ido;^ 
but  the  description  thou  hast  givQia>doth  bearT^ 
a  singular  likeness  to  that  ojf^certain  Anglo- 
Irishman  who  dwelt  some  time  in  the  castle 
■  of  the  O'NeiH."'- ■'■■^-  Z-^:'^  ^  '■:'- .  ■  ■^-  '.^'c  . : 

V  Ha !  I    have  heard  him   speak   to  my 
brother,"  cried  Arabella,  *'  of  a  .person  who 
had  been  placedas  a  spy  on  the  eaj-l's  actions. 
"^  I  pray  <3rbd  that  nothing  bad  may  have  come 
^fit;  fbrrit  hath  been  rumored  here  of  late 
'  ?^^hat  my  Idrd  of  Tyrone  hath  lost  the  qneen's , 
^;  favorj  and  is  regarded  as  a  suspicious  plotter. 
Tell  me,  father,  for  thou  canst,  if  this  ^e  all 
true  ?     She   spoke   with   eager   haste,  and, 
when-the  priest  glanced  at  her  face,  he  saw 
•it  suffused  with  a  bright  blush.     Her  ver^ 
lips,  too,  were  trembling  with^Te^otion,  and* 
.  in  her  eagerness  to  have  the  question  ansT^ered, 
'  she  advancect  a  step  nearer  to  thef  priest.  ^ 
-  «<  My  daughter^"  said  he  at  length,  with- 
out Seeming  to  notice  liet  emotion,  "what 
thou  hast  litard  is  but  too  true  ;  treacheiy 
hath  been  busy  at  Dungannon  ;  and,  hai  it 


BSD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


1P^ 


■s*  . 


not  been  for  a  certain' kind,  thougli  unknown 
friend,  who  twrice  warned  him  of  the  impend- 
ing danger,- fliy  noble  friend  ihight  have 
fallen,  into  the  trip,  notwithstariding  all  his 
prudence  and  penetration.** 

Arabella  cla$ped  her  hands,  and  glanced 
upwards  with  a  beaming  look  of  gratitude. 
«*  My  Godl  I  thank  thfee  !*'  she  murmured 
i^  a  low«^tone,  and  yet  it  was  overheard  by 

^^^epriest;' V>;'-';."       ■■■:.■     ■  '-'r"-  ' '-■  :i- 

*^    "  Why,  daughter,'' he  almost  involuntarily 
'  isaid,  *' how  doth  this  matter  concern  thee?*' 
" O,  much;  much  doth  it  concern  me! '* 
she  exclaimed,  as  thbugh  uncon^pus  of  her 
^rds ;  mii   suddenly  recollecting   herself, 
she  blushed  to^the  very  temples,  and,  turn- 
.  ing  away  her  H^d,  would  haVe  returned 
into  the  cottage  ;  but  the  plP^t,  in  his  an3| 
"etyror  her  peace  and  happiness,  was  dete 
mined  to  sift  the  miatter  fsirther.  /^ 

'•^Daughter  1 "  he   saidj-with  an  earnest- 
ness that  pj^duced  a  isolemn  effect,  "daughi-'v^ 
ter !  as  thou  hopest  for^peace  and  rest,  con- 
fide  to  me  the  secret  which  )[  see  ^oppresses 


thy  heart — ^thy  soul  I     Remember  that  thou 


1-1.' 


m 


V 


■     I 


^thee,  tfiel,!i|^y^#Bh  to  iril  tlua 
Ipjaiiise  of  sorrow  i|d  uneasiness, 
li^^lla  }iad  turn"^ 


^^^ ^     at  the  &6und  of  Wr 

p^l^Jbwt^sl^  now  liidfer  iace  with  both  her 
:;,lhf«yds,  and  leaned  agl^^  a  tree  as  though 
^^^''^uiiJpB  to  :8tand. .      v     '%;' ;  /  V    -. 

^    *%|  dare  not,  father  I  'Was  her  murmured     y 
I ^i^    ^Thou  woi^Wst.^ok  upon  me  with_ 
^?  llSas  i^^  thing,  iand  ^t  God  iiath 

'r   witn^fed?  tiow  I  Have  MruggM  against  this 
.!  Ifatdip&n.     This,  t#s| it; i8,-^hi8  overpow- 
■   ermg 'setise  of  guilt;  ;^^ 
*  dowi;  and^ot  m}^  brtMfV  persecu^fbr 
f:  fGod,"  ste  sjud,  soml^kt  prou^^ 

giyenniea  soi;d  to  brave  iiijustice  and  oppres-^ 
.:    sioiL    But  this  drea*^ingo%hameapd 

tffren>orge,-U),»ishy^ 

(Shiver  ran  throug]yl jBltiembers.  ;    VP 

« Iii -the  nain^«|p  God  Jirhose  WW 
^w  speaks  withij^^^?ad  the  priesPRl^ 
emnly,' ■  t/ 1  once  riPWfett^^^  thee^niai^> 
to  tell  me  what  |M^«H|nem^    I  i(^U  helj^ 
thgeto  tear  open  tfaelpg^festerfag  wound,. 


80  t^  we  may  apply  th©^  remedy.  ^^  :W'a^  li  f*^ 


\.  '    ■■'  ■   •         ;;  '■  ■ 

-  u  ■  ..-  ■'■■■ 

V   ,  - ,   •■,  .  ■■. 

•    then, 

" »!.  'V 

'didst 

Ag 

.  • .  ■ " 

suffas 

•"Alas 
hadst 

■■■■■  •'  *^ 
power 
after  a 
isno  t 
worth 

•acknb' 

sough 

,  agitati 


with  a 


%<f 


%rtho 
^  ble  ba 
^eras 


':*  -.r  ■ 


M' 


.1:     1 


■  7  J' 


■T'--' 


^i-  -  .ij 


.)-'• 


ItED  HAND  Of  tliSTBR. 


les 


■<  ■>■ 


then,  mistaken  when   I  fancied  that  thoUy 
didst  love  the  earl  of  Tyrone?        »     ^ 
■  Again  did   Arabella  hide  her  face,  now 


suffased  With  the  butnin&F  blush  of  shame. 
'"Alas!  no,  my  father.     Would  that  thou 
hadst  been  in  error!"  -       *    •? 

•  '^hen,  wherefore,  my  child,  this  over-, 
powering  sense  of  guilt  for  that  which  is, 
alber  all;  hut  a  natural  feeling  ?  Surely,  there 
no  such  fearful  guilt  in  lovihgf  one  who  is 
PWofthy  of  ail  love. /I  can  understand  the 
Ungs  with  which  a  modest  maiden  doth 


•acknbir|e4ge  her  love  for  one  who  hath  nbt 
sought  her ;  but  thy  feelings,— this  wondrous 
agitation,  I  ^qanhot  reconcile  with  its  simple 
cans 


m 


i.fc;, 


^cbv^ed  her  fiEice,\and  looked 
withSi^|iiMeht*at  thepriest.    >*^But  think,    ^ 
iSlhlsr,  o|ihe  g|j|ri§s*wW61?^  ^esip^ated 
-#-thou  sttfety'^ans^; iW feg^t'the  impassa-     ? 
^  ble  bariier  whick  IJes  reWew  jwvnot  reira^d 
^er,as  ^Itlesis  yrUp\  hath^  CQiii|ess6d  li^r  Ime  *%^ 
>|^:  the  husband  ct.aiipther^i3^iii>/inT 


Iftot  so;,  say  not 


ctt  taalM%»i  nolltet  this 


Si! 


r^< 


FOUS  Sin 


W0 


-% 


,^*.'?t 


V  of  1 4^6  not  enter 


4\r'-,->^ 


.  'V- 


j^: 


T:, 


I   ■ 


166 


life  ittAOT)  OF  ULSTBll. 


beauty  of  holiness.     No,  no;ltlM)u  canst  ijc^ 
mean  to  extenuate  my  fault  ?  *  -7 cr .     y.  .j^r^-^ 

*' Assuredly  not,"  said  the.  father,  with  a 
benignant  smile ";  ''  for,  wert  thou  gui^y  of :  - 
so  foul  a  crime,  I  could  no^  dare,  as  a,min-  , 
ister  of  God,  to  pronounce  it  a  trifling  mat- 
ter ;  but  thouart  wrong,  my  dearest  d^'^^ter, 
Nosuqh  barrier  doth  nowr^xi^t ;  many  a 
month  has  past,  since  the  coj^ntess  of  Tyrone 
was  laid  in  the  grave.     MS^  her  soul  restin 

^^  peace.;-  ■   ■     ■ "   '  ■  • -'v  ' -:^:;-^^  'i.--  -J '"■' ■■' 

"Now,  then, my  most  miercifulfkther,  do   ^ . 

I  thank  thee  ^lice  again  1 "  and  Arabella  fell  ^^ 
on  her  kne^,  jn  apparent  fbrgetfubiess  of  all 
but  God  ;-r-«tiow  hast  thol  shown  thy  great 
mercy  in  taking  from  my  \8oul  this  fearful 
weight  of  sin  and  sorrow/':  ,V>:  /^  j 

The  priest  was  about  to^^|6  herirom  the 
cold,  damp  earth  whereon  Jfefe^continui^t^^r 
kneel,  but  he  was  fores^ledby{  another, 
who,  springing  from  behftid  the  identical  ■ 
tree   against  which  Arabella  ImdsQ  lately' 
-    -  -       -         '  "--*  and 


leaned;  snatched  het  from  the  ground^ 
pressed  her  to  his  Heart.    The  intruder  Wjg, 


:;tf'. 


RED   HAND   OF  /ULSTER. 


167 


cslosely  muffled  up  in  a  large  cloak;  (then  . 
seldom  worn  by  the  Irish)   but  even  before 
he  had  spoken  a  word— before  even  Ara- 
bella had  recpvered  frbm  her  fright  so  as  to^ 
be  able  tp  speak-^th^  priest  called  out  in  a 
joyful  tone,  "  My  lord  the  earl  l-r-now  God; 

.•be-praisedf"  ,\,  ■/'-•-.■'■•'.'""". '"^  ■v.^- 

"  Arabella/*  said  tl!e  earl  softly,  as '  1t]^^ 
.shrinking  girl  hid  her  face  on  his  shouldjP^- 
**  wilt   thou  fbrgiv0  me   for   haying   stolen    % 
^  unawares  on  thy  privacy,  and  thus  become 
an   unsuspected   sharer  ?  irf  thy  conMence  ? 
Nay,  raise  thine  head,/sweet  one,  nor  fear  " 
thatsl  shall  be  a  severe'  censor.'    And  y^t    ' 
tlift  crime,  as  confessed, , doth  a^ut'edMitt^t  > 
a  grievous   punishiinent :    say,   father.  What 

.;  shall  itbe?^!-  ^C  -.A-;.-- :"':^--^''-- 1->  -  .■:-.--:■'"■•.■"  • 

•'    **Nay,  my  lord,'*  said  Arabella,  as  sho 
tncated  herself  from  the  earl's  embrace, 
I  do.  not!  take  this  conduct  kindly,---it  is 
surely  unMforthy  of  thee!"  >  '  ' 

^Thettillpt  me,  too,  have  my  punishment" 
decreed  by  our  revered  father .v    I'^ill  sub-:, 

almost  wild  with  ilMghtijAsurpiifie. 


#•' 


n 


l\o 


I'J' 


168 


BailKD  OF   ULSTER. 


"y. 


/#■• 


'Whatever  was   the.  penalty  awarded  the! 
ofTenders,   they   quickly ,  entered  the  house 
-^   with  Ihd^' priest,  and  scarcely  half  an  hour ^^ 
had  passed  when  Arabella,  with  her  compan- 
'  ion,  set  out  in  one  direction  to  retujrn  to 
Newry,  while  the  earl  8umm|||^d  some 
tir  twelve  of  his  men  whd  were  concealed  ii 
ly  the  wood,  and  havin^-mounted  the  priest 'on 
"'j.  a  horse  which  they  had  brought  for  the  pur- 
.       pose,^^t^ned   his   face  once   m6l:e  towards 
Dun^nnd&f.     At  jpdrting,   he   had  merely 
^^UnresWd  the%and  which  Arabella  held  out  to 
i;P  him ;  but  he  said,  in  a  low,  impassioned  tone, 
4^fth  calledi||ieelo(|ttentl  blood  to  her  beau- 


^■\- 


wtiful  cKeeki  "^jBi^  w^ek*!*ften|fe,  tlien,  my 
e  meet^  with.  God^f  help,  to  part 


beloved 


no  mo: 


ee.", 


ik 


lytelB 


HI  then,^  may  angels    guard 


I  As  they  rode  home  side  by  side.  Father 
McNamara  could  not  refrain  from  express- 
ing his  surprise, at  the  close  disguise  tmder 
which  the  earl  had  kept  both  his  sentiments 
with  regard  to  Arabella,  a^<  his  intention  of 
taking  such  a  step  as  he  h^d  that  day  done. 
'<It  was^  my  .d^ar  and  reverend  friend^ 


•    \:.'.^'-'    '.y  ■■  ''■■■'.    ■        ■'"'K 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


169 


OWOIjij 


because  I  wished  first  of  all  to  ascertain 
whether  theHady  Arabella  would  laVor  my 
^luit,  andj  for  the  rest,  if  I  followed  thee  here 
this  day,  my  hopes  extended  no  farther  than 
to  see  her,  and  offer  my  vows  for 'her  accept- 
ance. I  was  just  on  the  point  of  entering 
tne  house  when  I  had  the  good  fortutie  to 
see  you  both  appear,  and  I  need  scarcely  say 
what  my  feelings  were  while  I  listened^  to 
.6  unwilling  confession  of  the  admirable 
1 ! — so  now  this  matter  is  ended,  I  trust, 
to  thy  satisfaction."  .The  priest's  reply  was 
a  cheerful  afErmative,  as  nia^^  well  be 
believed. '"  ;•.'-   ■  ;■  "£^JJKL-  ;■ 

The  third  day^  after^his  r^ra^l^  was  the 
day  appointed  for  the  assembly,  and  it  had 
scarcely  reached  its  noon  when  there  were 
%  present  upwards  of  a  score  of  chieftains,  of 
whom  the  greater  number  were  of  high  con- 
sideration. Several  others  had  sent  apolo-^ 
gies,  signifying,  nevertheless,  their  good  will 
to  the  cause,  and  their  intention  to  contrib^ 
ute  their  full  quota  to  the  national  army. 
Of  this  litter  number  wal5  Magennis,  and 
Tyrone  rec^ved  the  message  with  singular 


/ 


nr- 


u 


f"  T '  '^fW  ^"1*^5?  «s-wf . 


170 


SSD  HAND  OF   ULSTBR. 


1 


pleasure,    inasmuch    as    he    had     doubted 
whether  the  cliiefuin  of   Iveagh  would,    ia 
the  end,  he^ound  where  duty  called  him.-: 
Brian  McMahon  was  there  in  person,  and  so  ' 
also  was  the  venerable  O'Reilly  of  Breffni, 
whose   patriotism   not   even   advancing  agje 
could  chill  or  damp.     On  the  whole,  it  was 
a  cheerful  sight  to  see  so  many   powerful 
chiefs  assembled  fo^  a  common  object,  many 
of  whom  were,  within  a  few  years,  nay,  a  few  * 
months,  the  mortal  enemies  of  each  other. 
0*Cahan  was  there  from  Derry,  and  McDon- 
nell from  the  Glynns,  and  even  some  of  the 
tri^uts^es  ■  of  >  the   degenerate    O'Donnells, 
were  tnerie  to  shew  that  Tyrconnell  was  not 
altogether  paralyzed  by  the  slavish  spirit  of 
its  toparch. 

And  O^Neill  moved  amongst  them,  his 
fine  face  radiant  with  smiles,  and  his 
approach  every wheri  greeted  with  respect ; 
the  actuating  spirit  wii  he  of  all  that  noble 
assembly.  He  was  scrupulously  attired  in 
the  Celtic  costume,  with  his  nut-brown  hair 
falling  almost  to  his  shoulders,  as  though  in 
studied  defiance  of  ||^t  legal  enactment  of 


KED   HAND  OF   ULSTER. 


171 


Henry  the  Eighth's  time,  which  forbade  the 
Irish  to  wear  the  coolunt  *or  lottg  l^^ir. 
lilready  had  he  explained  to  iHeassemhle^ 
'  chiefs  the  actual  position  of  the  confederacy, 
and  was  still  depicting,  in  his  clear  and  force- 
ful way,  the  evils  under  which  the  country 
labored,  and  the  ihcred  obligation  under 
which  her  children  lay  of  using  their  best 
endeavors  to  root  out  the  baneful  source  of 
her  sufferings,  wheA  suddenly  a  door  opened 
near  him,  and  Miles  O'Reilly  entered.  No 
immediate  notice  being  taken  of  his  appear-  <: 
ance,  the  young  man  drew  back  behind  the 
earl,  and  stood  with  folded  arms  during  the 
remainder  of  the  address.  When  Tyrone 
had  concluded  his  address,  amid  an  enthnsi- 
astic  burst  of  applause,  he  turned  to  O'Reilly^ 
and  shook  him  by  the  hand,  with  as  much 
Apparent  warmth  as  though  his  presence 
aflbrded  no  cause  for  apprehension.      ' . 

"I  perceive,"  said  O'Reilly,  **  that  I  have 
come  at  a.  time  when,  of  all  pthers,/ 1  am 
least  welcome — ^but  t  pray  thee  take  mtTHeed? 


'  i  ■, 


^1 ' 


for  S  will  but  speak   to   my  good  uncle, 

whom  I  see  yonder,  and  then  withdraw,"  j__    ^ 

-  '.    -  '  \  ■  A 


i 


172 


RED   HAND  OF  ULSTEB. 


f--,: 


He  then  crossed  over  to  wlxere  the  O'Reilly 
sat,  and  the  old  man,  contrary- to  his  expec- 
tations, arose,  to  greet  him.  It  was  clear 
that  he  understood  his  appearance  as  indicat- 
ing a  change  in  his  political  sentiinents,  and, 

'.   holding  out  Jiis, hand,  he  sai4»  kindly  : 
,  "Bless   thee,    son  of  my  Wother,   bless 
thee.     I'  had  little  expeeted  to  s'fee  thee  here>  r+ 

,  an4.  -the  .sight  hath  gladdened  mine  aged: 
eyes,  for  it  was  a  sore,  soire  trial  for  me  to^ 
believe  thee  on  the  side  of  the  Sasserilach. 
"But  why  wearest  thou  that  English  doublet^" 
MablmQtdha  ?  Take  it  off,  my  boy^take  it 
off,  for  it  becomes  not  thee>.;ibnd<^still--Jess 
this  assembly  of  Erin's  true  sons  I  ^'  '^ 

"It  shall  be  done,  my  unoleJ  ^!  returned, 

"his  nephfe^y;  with  kindling'enthusiasm,  "  I 

^  know,  and  have  long  known,  that  it  is  the 
livery,  of  slavery— aye,  and  before  this  noble  ' 
company  do  I  vofW  that-  hencefortjrard  ■  it  shall 
be  my.  pride  to  act  as  an  O'lteUly  shp^^^^ 
Before  a^  reply  could^^;  made  h^ 
quitted  the  hall,  and^; 

5  dent  so  "visible  in 


JJ|b^  aifitdmsh. 
,ce^!^|(£i  vented 


itself  ih  words^  he  rea^Mredoh  th%^ 


':^tM^^, 


RED   RAND   OF  T7LSTER^ 


m 


Costume.    Takitig  1118  place  tben  beside  his 

^^mde,  he  bowed,  with  graceful  ease,  to  the 

•      assetnbled  nobles,  and  craved  permission  to 

say  a  few  words.     All  seeming  to  listen  with^ 

attention,  he  drew  a  rapid  sketch,  (nsing  the 

Irish  language,  as  a  iriatter  of  course,)  of  his 

earlier  youth,  and  of  the  wiles  which  had 

Jjeen  used  to  draw  him  fi^m  Ms  natural  con-^^ 

nexions.      He    showed  '  liow  ■  his    youthful 

mind  had  been  gnidually,indoctrinated^with 

'    English  thoughts,  and  feelings,  and  opinions^ 

and  how  hflf'had  been  s6nt  to  Ireland,  as  h6 

well.kneV,  as  a  spy.  on'  O'Neiirs  actions. 

He  then  told  how.  various^  events,  (such  as 

*  the  atrocious  execution  of  McMahon,  and 

_     the    capture    of    young    O'Donnell,)    had 

\   wrought  a  remarkable  <?harge  in  hid  opinions. 

*^A,  change  which  was  made  perfect,*'  said 

'He,"  bowing  ^racefuljy .  to  O'Neill,  "by  my 

acquaintanceV shortas , it  was,  with  him  who 

jnay^  be  jnistl^  considered  the  mover  of  this 

>[■-  great;ent^rise  of  youts."'     ;;         .  i  -J 

O^K^ll  had   listened  Vith  su:rprise  '^0^ 

'     pleasure  to  this  most  welcome  explanation, 

andj  when  O'Reilly  coas^d  to  speak,  he  ^as 


& 


\ 


,¥ 

^-A.  * 


") 


5V 
I 

■.♦   ; 

'i 


!* 


'i  -lit 
||.'!h 


i,«i 


■' 


174  •    ^  ,    BfeD  HAND  OF  tJLSTER. 


^ 


.v^: 


t'.  •• 


tjie^  first  to  go  forward  and  offer  Kim  "lus 
hand,  expressing,  at  t\A  same  time,  his  %*eiy 
great  satisfaction.     "  For,"  added  he,  **  tru&\ 
and  sincerity  are  so  legibly  imprinted  on  thy 
brow  at  this  moment;  that  I,   for  Oi^j^^O- 
oonfess  alj  doubt  ^t  an  end,  and  Heartily^^id-  ' 
thee  welcome  to  dtir  asscjmbly!     Heil||CTir- *: 
ira£rd  1  trust  we  shall  labor  togetheA  iofe^ur^' 


'..^     •< 


cohntry  and  our  faith,— both  sVcrtlelly'ni^n-' 
icled  by  th^  relentless  tyrants  who  hold  us 
■/'in  thrdl/*'-\'^'.- ■•,,,;  ^ ■  :'^r: ■':}-'■  :^^^^ 

r  His  «exaw^ple  was  quickly  followed  by  all 
J)resent ;  and    even    the    sinewy   hand    of 
McDonnellv  grasped  the  delicate  fingers  of 
O'Reilly,  thotigh  confessing,  as  he  did  so,'* 
that  but  a  few  minutes  before  he  felt  strongly 
disposed  to. throw  him  from  the  window  or  lose 
a  fall  for  it,  **  when  I  saw  thee^'  said  he,  ^*  i||v 
\  thaiyjjonkey-uniform,.  haying  the  hardihood 
to  appear  in  such  an  assembly  as  this.^*    ^    *  r 
_   O'Reilly    answered    only  wi|h   k    j^jd^ 
Jiuinored  smile,  taking  the  words  of  the  Scdt 
as  kindly.as  they  were  meant.     The  busii/oils 
of  the  meeting  was  then .  proceeded  withj" 
and  though  Miles  O^Reilly,  with  becoming 


*  •; 
.1 


"^^■•"^■■n  «  .i.»  mil  »  iimi  I 


BED  HAND  OF,  tJLSTER. 


175 


modesty,  refrained  from  taking  &%Mi|^i 
part;  yet  it  was  easy  to  see  that  "mt  4Si 
present  was  more  interested  than  he.     ^ 

The  meeting  was  followed  up  by  n  han- 
j^^uet,  and  it  was  not  till  the  following  d«f 
that  any  of  the  confederates  left  the  mff^s 
It  was  long  past  noon  when  the  last  took  hi 
dejparture,  leaving  Mile«  0'B#tMy  alone  witir 
his  host.  The  young  majn  had  been  pressed 
by  his  uncle  to  go  home  irithhim  to  Breffoi ; 
but  he  had  excused  himsel:|  for*  the  present, 
on  the  plea  that  by  stayii%  at  Dunganno'n  he 
might   be   employed   by^he  /arlin   some 


>f 


useful  service  j  "for,  thog"  kniwest,  uncle^ 
he'said,  with  a  smile,  %hat  T^  who  have 
eonie  in   bia  at  'the  eleventh   hour,  |iav# 
much  misspent  time  to  r^eem."     Sp  Philip 
O'Reilly  set  out  alone,  nothing  loth  to  leave 
his  nephew  on  soTlair  a:|)^enGe.  /     ' 

in  the  course  of  the  e\4ning,  the  eonf  er- 
sation  between  O'Neill  and  his  guiest  was 
exclusively  on  the  m^vem^nt  in  progression, 
ancf  Tyrone  was  more  and  more  satisfied  with 
the  views  ajih  intentions  of  his  younar  friend. 
Jt  chan^ea  t|^t  Father  McNaniara  Was  absent 


1^ 


■'V^-^r- 


■■^Jt 


'fc 


m 


I* 


r 


M\l 


i-rt' 


'■  I 


.  ■■» 


(  '  ■ 


.!  h 


-.■  \ 


■:t,-' 


'■■ft 


^ 


176 


EBD  HAND   OF  ULSTE*. 


..v:- 


o 


it  the  time,  so  that'they  were  left  altogether 
urttestmned,  and  the  earl  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  to  obtain  as  deep  an  insight 
as  he  possibly  cottld  into  O'Reilly -s  character. 
There  was  one  thing  struck  him  more  than 
any  other    at    that    particular  -^  time,  —  he 
bfaerved  that  Miles  indulged  in  a  species.  6f 
wild  gaiety  which  could  not  be  real,  even 
allowing   for  the   natural  "buoyancy  of  his 
temper.     In  the  midst  of  the  most  serious 
discourse,  too,  he  would  break  off  into  spme  - 
fanciful    flight,   while,  all    the  time,   there, 
burned  on  his  cheek  a  deep  red  spot  which ,; 
much  resembled  the  sieal  set  by  fever,  on  its 
vi^uns,     To  the  penetrating  eye  bf  O'Neill 
it  was  sufficiently  obvious  that  some  eorrodn^ 
ing  care  lay  de^ep  in  the  young  man's  mind, 
'which  h6  would  fain  have  tsoncealed  under 
this  ostentatiows  gaiety.    But  when  he  hinted 
his  suspicions  to  that  effect,  O'Reilly  replied, 
4ith  a  forced'  laugh,   « Truly,   thou  wert  ^ 
never  mpre  inistaten,  mine  honored  lotd ; 
no  man  in  all  this  northern  province  is  ^eer. 
from  Care  than  I ;  come,  let 's  throw  it  ^o  ihe\ 
winds ;  let 's  enjoy  life  while  we  n^ay.'f 


i  ■■: 


♦  / 


/ 


''s- 


M- 


'■\'% . 


BED  HANP  OF  ULSTER. 


m 


The  earl  shook  his  head,  being  far  from 
iteitidiied'  with  thi§,  answer,  but  he  could  not 
press  his  inquiries'  farther,  and,  though  per- 
fectly convinced  that  some^eat  change  had 
%een.  effected  on  O'Reilly^  .mind,— probably 
his  heart,— during  his^bsence',  he  was  com- 
,  pelled  to  keep  his  tljkkightS^Ha  himself,  fear- 
'  ing  to  wound  whete  he  Ti^ould  have  wished 
.to  heal.     What  tended  stilMnore  to  confirm 
his  suspicions,  wag  the  impenetrable  silence 
^  preserved    by    O'Eeilly    on\  all    that    had 
J.  occurred^ during  his  absence. 

Kext  (iay,  he  (abru^ly  told  his  host  that  he 
onust  again  leave  him,  saying,  with  a  peculiar 
lile,  **  The  attendants  whom  thou  wert  so 
glaod  as  to  give  me,  I  have  «^  left  at  Shane's 
-Cafetle,  Wbere  I  have^  been  tp  visit  thy  cousin, 
an4  there  I  will  find  them  as  I  pass  that  way. 
,  on  my  journey.*  .    .       \ 

"  But  why  this  abrupt  departure,  O'Reilly, 

and  whither  art 'thc^u  bound,  if  a^irjend  may 

be  permitted  to  ask?  "     \  /         ^  .  •        * 

"NaV, ,  my  good  lord,,  the  business  oh 

which^lVb  m^J^  not  be.  sptfkeh,  of  till  its 

jissue  is  (decided^^nough  to  tel\  thee  f^ow- 


\'     i 


"i 


i   „">\ 


!> 


<^     i 


J.^ 


i.l 


:    .1 


■A. 


\} 


U4 

I 


■/ 


■\-J- 


\ 


\ 


'•-i: 


:^^. 


m 


-1,' 


SBD"  lEilNI)  OF  ULSTER. 


that  the  Happiiiess  ^i^^j  i^hole  life  iar  at 
•take*  and  if  my  hopes  are  blighted,  I  shall 
bury/ the  fatal  secret  in  my  «prt ;  if,  on  the 
conttsiry,  1  am  succ^sfur  then  shalt  thou 
]mve,in  afeV  ^aysj^a  full  explanj^ion.     In 

» either  case>  farewell  for  the  present    We  , 
:^all  .mee)t  again,  one  of  us  eithet  ■  the  most 
mUeroble  ojrmen,  or  blest  a$  man  seldom 

^hath  be^.*f    And,,WMgingt%  hand  which 
the  earl  >iiently  held  out  to^  he  flung 

Jtiraaelf  oh  his  waiting  steed,  and  was  in  a 

]  lew  minutes  oijt  of  sight.    The  earl,  as' he 
slowly  reentered  the  eastle,  endeavored,  but 
v^nly/to  find  a  ciue*  to  ithis  mystery ,^  until  - 
wearied  with  fruitless  conjecture  he  dismissed 
the'  s^bj^ct  from  his  mind^  committing  it  to^ 


^  s(H-disclosing  hand  oftime. 


I ' 


CHAPTER  Vt. 


r 


V. 


/ 


"     •_ 


\ 


\ 


t 


S«  atafely  hit  foim,  so  beauteonii  her  fte«, 

That  never  a  ball  such  gaUiftrd  did  grace, 
«  ,       «     ^    *  *  *        .<» 

One  tonoh.to  her  band,  one  word  to  ber  ear, 
Soon  they  reached  the  hall  door  where  a  charger  Biood  near/  , 
So  light  in*  the  e^nnp  the  lady  he  swung, 
So  light  in  the  raddle  before  her  be  sprang.'  ,         y^^  ^ 
She  is  won— we  are  gme-^verbr^ak,  broDi,  andiierlar  ; 
They  '11  need  fleet  steeds  to  follow,"  qooib^jwiDg  LochlnTar: 

Scon* 


"v 


.■\' 


■■/ 


/■■•*/■, 


'^'' 


v;' 


RED  ^AlVD  OF  TJlSTBR, 

O'Neill  took   an   earlj^/oppott 


^    oppoi^tunity   of; 
imparting  to  Father  McNamaf^  the  change 

•  Tyhich  had  taken  jriace  in  O'ReiliWs  v4eWs, 
giving  him^a  full  account  of  the  paA  he  had  5 

:     takeii  at  the  late  assembly.;    The  prW  was   ^ 
at  first  startled  by  the  une^^ected  Welli-^ 
gence,  and  hesitated  Jiot  to  express  his^  fears 
that  O'Reilly  was  still  doing  the  wor^  of 
England  by  intruding  him^l^  thus  into\the 
Very  heart  of  the  confederady.     But  O'Neill, 
in  whose  judgment  he  had  eonfiderice,  ve^y 
soon  reasoned  hint  W  of  this  fear,  and  wh^    ( 
he  wound  up  his  arguments  by  exclaiming 
With  the  energy  of  conviction  that  he  w6uld\ 
stake   his   Ufe,on  Q'EeilJy's  Sincerity,  the  ' 
pnest  could  say  no  more.    Ti^e  earl  next 
t^lated  the  singular  contersatioA  which  ha4  / 
^.preceded  O'Reilly  V  departure,  ank  %xpi^ss^^ 
himself  wholly  at  si  lo#  to  unters^nd  it, 
v^' unless,"  said    lie,  with  a    smile,    "that 
miscMevous  urchin,  Gupid,  be  at  the  bot- 
tom   of   it,^his   conducMtJs^^ 
incomprehensible.'*  v 

•  .^' Left  he  the  men  behind  f^inten^ulted  ' 
%chaplain,  as  thpugk  ^o^  jjacoiiscious 

earl's  conci 


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KED  HAND  OF  rLSTERV 


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"So  he  1^ia>me,'*  returned  Tyrone^  '* and 
that,  too,  is  as  strange  as  any.-  Say,  father, 
what  are  we  to  think  of  all  this?  There  i? 
something  in  this  that  I  cannot  fathom, 
though  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  some  fair 
damsel  hath  played  foul  wUh  his  senses:" 
^    "Your  lordship  hath  condescended  to  ask    > 

my  opinion,"  said  the  priest,  "  but  suffer  me 
for  this  one  time  to  borrotr  a  little  of  your 
own  caution.  I  would  rather  hot  say  whal; 
I  think  of  this  matter  4r  a  few  <Uy^  y^t,  for; 
if  my  suspicions  are  ill-feundel,  J  sljould 
bitterjy  regret  having  giVen.  them  expression. 
'And,  now,  t6 ,  chahge  our  th^me— on.  what 
day  hath'  your  lordship  ^rbn^sed  to  yisit 
'■•■/NewryfV--:;:;    '■.:;.•; 

«  Tek  a^s  hei^e,*'  replied  the  earl,  *f  huf 
^hy  put  tfce  question  now  ?— I  would  give 
somewhat  to  know  what  thy  thoughts  are  of  , 

"Ten  days,"  repeated  the  priest,  slowly 

and  musingly,  "  and  why  defer  it'  so  long, 

'Whynot  go  to-morrow?"  "        ,\    "      ' 

^  The  earl  laughed.     "  Nay,  mffeood  father^ 

such  precipitation. might  mar  the  plot ;  better 

/wait  for  the  appointed  day."      ,  . 


jf 


,."'1  \\\ 


Mill  Uu....' 


■*    .' .  '■ 


'  »BD   HAND   OP   tTLStBB.  181 

/      .^^^  I  **yi°*^*  ^  my  lord  earl;  and  1 

willji  for^nce,  tell  thee,  >bove-board,  that 

-thou  art  iff  error.     Old   priest  as^I  am,'  t 

%e  dived  farther  into  this  batter  than  thou 

Mifth  all  thy  foresight ;  nay,  in  part>  T  have 

/information   from   the   lady  herself;  and  I 

1   solemnly  w^n  Uiqe  that  tomorrow's  sunrise 
ihould  see  thee  setting  out  for  Newry,  ay, 
/tod  with.  si|b^  a  fcrce  as  thou  hast,  never 
gone  before!  *•  %  ^ 

j^,  /'Father P'  said jlie ^ after  a  momeht- 
;  aiy  silence,. "I  have  evS  found  thee  a  wise 
and  judicious  counsellor,  and  I  will  not  now 
go  against-  thy  bidding.  -  I  will  do  as  thou 
shyest  in  the  name  of  Gqd.*' 
/ >  "It  is  well,  my  ion  I  and  while  thou  art 
absent,  I  shall  pray  our  Heavenly  Fatlier  that 
there  ^rise  no  necessity  to  Ijnll  human  blood, 

:  for,^las!  I  see  onthy  iieriious  way  much 

wrath   and  jealousy  which  th§u  perchance 

V^iwest/not."//;' ;::.''^v:'*'  ■  ''"'"^  ■•  v  ....  v-^- 

■     On  the  dgly  whic 
tioii,  Arabella  was 
heir'  brother's  fortress- 
|itfed  up  for  her  esfe 


; 


ed  this  con versa- 

an  apartment  of, 

which  he  had 

in  a 


5,  .and 


J ' 


.''^ 


}i 


n: 


>.1 


t! 


•\v- 


;,  f 

}  ; ; 
.'■1 


18S 


RED   HAND   OP  ULSTER. 


Itylenotonly  of  elegance  l?ut  of  luxury.'   It 
was  furnished  something  in  the  fashion  of 
our  moderp^drawingirooms,  allowing  for  the 
difference  of  the  various  articles  of  furniture. 
The  room  wa,8  not  l^ge  ;  and  the  light,  which 
should  hft^e  entei^id  by  two  large  ^vtndows, 
as  8hlde^"i«t|/  a  soft  twilight  ^"heavy;-^ 
Jraperies  of  rich  crimson  velvet.     With  the  • 
same   costly   material  were   cushioned   two 
curiously-wrought  couches  of  dark,  shining 
oak,  and  some  two  or  three  of  those  tall, 
narrow  chairs,  in  which  we  see  represented 
on  canvass  so  many  fair  forms  of  that  day. 
OnstandSin  the  niches  around  th^  room, 
stood  vases  of  rare  beauty,  filled  with   the 
flowers  of  the  season^-"  the   sweetest   and 
the   last,"   for  it  was  then  autumn.     Over 
one  of  these  fragrant  treasures,  :Arabella  was 
bending,  inhaling  its  refreshing  perfume-^ 
herself  the  ^loveliest   flower  of   all.      Her 
exquisibvfeatures  wore  still  that   look  oi 
dej^ction—no,  not  now  dejection,  but  care^ 
ibd  her  mild  eye  was  turned  from  time  tc^ 
tirne  towards  the  door,  with.^hat  might  be 
icailed  a  fe  look.     After-a  little   while, 


1^.    )i 


V"' 


.'M  m, 


Mm  MAI 


183 


■],> 


if*^. 


she  opened  the  door  oflRmall  closet  near, 
and  said  to  her  cousin  who  sat  there  at  work 
*-— **  Ho  may  not  come  to-day,  after  all,  for  it 
is  now  late — an  hour  past  noon.** 
•    The   old    l^dy   shook    her   head    douht- 
ingly>-^"  tet  not  thy  hopes  carry  thee  so 
-  far,  my  sweet  cousin.     He  will  come,  if  lifir 
(^  be  spared  him.*'  "^ 

.  .  **  Hush  !  here  he  is  I  Here  they  are  I  " 
and  Arabella  had  ba|rely  time  to  close  the 
door,  and  resume  her  stand  near  the  vase  of 
flowers,  when,  with  a  loud,  coajrse  laugh,  her 
brother  threw  open  the  principal  door  and 
'  enteredj  foUovt^ed  by  a  young  man  dressed  in 
i'  the  very  extreme  of  fashion — of  English  fash- 
ion ;  in  short,  the  very  counterpart,  both  in 
person  and  equipment,  of  what  Miles  O'Reilly 
was  on  the  day  when  that  personage  met,  for 
the  first  time,  the  eyes  of  Hugh  O'Neill;  and 
no  wonder  that  the  likeness  was  coq[iplete ; 
for  this  was  no  other  than  O'jfeeilly  himself. 
The  smirking,  and  somewhat  conceited  smile 
with  which  Miles  had  been  listening  to . Bag- 
nd,  a£!  they  came  along  the  outer  hall, 
instantly  vanished  from  his  &ce  as  his  eye 


1 


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RED   HAND   OP  ULSTER. 


*   « 


met  the  grave,  cold  look  of  Arabella  wJje« 
she  returned  his  deferential  salute.  She  was 
habited  in  a  close  fitting  garment  of  black 
v^\^,  fastened  firom  throat  to  waist  with 
pearl-stttdded  clasps  of  gold,  and  her  rich 
dark  hair  was^g^ered  high  on  the  back  of 
her  head  into  a  rouhdM;wist,  giving  to  her 
small  head,  and  beautifully^ehiselled  featuriesi 
the  air  of  a  Grecian  statue.  Not^iksmile  was 
seen  to  light  her  face,  even  when  her  brother 
affected  a  gaiety— a  boisterous  gaiety— that 
was  any  thing  but  natural  to  his  ^dark 
disposition.      /       . 

"So>  so,  Bella,'*  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
laugh,  "  c6y  as  thou  dost  chopse  to  appejar, 
thou  hast  been  preparing  flowers  for  the  wed- 
ding, eh  ?     Is  it  not  so,  my  pretty  sister  t " 

**  Flowers  are  n<x  new  ornaments  ^  my 
apartment,  my  good  brother,"  skid  Arabella, 
quietly;  "but  sit  ye  down;  jmethinks  ye 
both  look  as  though  something  of  wondrous 
importance  brought  ye  hither ! '* 

*' Ay,  marry,  sister>"  cried  Bagnal,  as  he" 
stretched  his  length  on  a  coueh,  and  motioi^ed 


his  companion  to  an  adjacent  chair^ — '^  Ay^ 


REB   HAND   OF  ULSTER* 


185 


many !  th^  quick  penetration  hath  not  erred, 
for  we  come  to  learn  thy  decision,  or  rather 
receive   thy    consent    to   wed    my    friend 

"Indeed  ! "  exclaimed  Arabella,  ^nd  she 
turned  a  searching  look  on  each  in  tufe, 
while  a  strange  expression  of  irony  took  posv 
sessioa  of  her  features.  "And  methought  I 
had  settled  this  question  ere  nov.  I  dreamed 
not  that  the  nobte  gentleman  here  present 
could  stoop  to  sue  after  being  so  repeatedly 
refused^*' ^/^-V-^y^^'.':'     ' .    "*  '' V  ■■.  ;  ^'::' 

"Btit  knowes^ou  ncA,  my  dainty  sister^ 
cfiedthe  msfrshal,  with  rising  anger,  "that 
no  sHcn>a^swer  will  pass  -Current  with  me  ? 
O'Reilly  haveSLchosen  "fpf  thy  husband,  and 
thankful  shouldst^lhoi^be  for  such  an  offer." 

" JTfe^ful  I  may  be^for  his  preference, 
but  marry  him  I  never  t^^ill  1 '^^^eturned  Ara- 
bella>  with  a  firmness  that  showed  the^strength 
of  her  resolution.  "  In  vain  have  ye  p^i)G< 
tised  on  me  in  various  ways ;  vainly  have^ ye 
deceived  me  on  one.  great  point ;  ye  cannot, 
dare  not,  coeree  my  will ;  and  again  I  say  I 
will  never  be  his  wife  I  '* 


I  i\ 


M 


.....■^.■^ 


186 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


Bagnal  was   spseecbless   with   fury ;    but 
O'ReiUy,  who  was^ever  subdued  into  respect- 
ful silence^y  the  majesty  of  Arabella's  pres-    , 
ence,  now  came  forward,  and,  kneeling  pn-t^^ 
one  knee  before  her,  he  looked  up  into  her 
face  with  a  glance  qf  even  piteous  supplica- 
tion, while  his  chest  heaved,^nd  the  color  ' 
on  his  cheek  came  and  went,  so  violent  were 
his  emotio|||||g^  fear,  and  hope,  and  love,  and 

sorrow/"^^  •'■'■  z^:  '■':  ^  :-.:,::'■;    :■-♦,. 

*^  Ladjr,  is  there  no  hope— none  ?  CW 
nothing  move  thy  heart?  Or  is  it  possible 
tfiat  one  so  angelic  in  form  and  mien  can 
have  so  passing  little  of  woman's  softness? 
Think,  (but  thou  canst  not,  for  thou  knowest 
it  notii  how  I  have  loved  and  do  still  love 
thee ;  ay,  with  all  thine  obduracy ! 

"  I  pray  thee  rise,  gentle  sir!  "  said  Ara- 
bella; "for  thou  humblest  thyself  in  vain. 
I  cannot,  may  not,  love  thee,  even  if  I 
:  would!"/ •■,,■*  '■':■:■•■■-■  ■.■;,■•:■,/■■:■-::.■■- 
On  hearing  this,  Bagnal  sprang  forward, 
with  a  menacing  gesture,  but,  ere  he  could 
reach  Arabella,  O'Reilly  started  to  his  feet, 
and,  catching  hold  of  ;Ahe  angry  maiBhal,  led 


^  / 


RBB   HAND   OP   UI^ER. 


187 


him  Back  to  his  seat,  whispering  some  words 
which  seemed  to  calm  him  down  amazingly. 
Going  back,  then,  to  Arabella,  he  seized'her 
hand,  and  drew  her  to  a%indow'atth^terther 
end  of  the  apartment.  When  there,  he  said 
to  her  in  a  low  tone: 

"  Wbuld'st  thou  know  how  far  this  over* 
mastering  passion  hath  subdued  me,  reason, 
soul,  and  all  ?"    /  s 

"N^,"  said  Arabella,  .with  her  cold,  sar- 
castic  smile,  *^  I  would  rather  dissuade  thee 
from  making  any  farther  confession,  since  all 
must  be  so  unavailing.*' 
..  "But  thou  shalt  know  it,"  said  0*Reilly, 
speaking  through  his  shut  teeth,  and  laying 
his  hand  on  her  arm  at  the  same  time,  as 
though  to  detain  her.  "  For  thee  have  I 
acted  a  part  which  my  soul  abhorred  ;  fqr, 
thy  sake  have  I  reviled  and  calumniated  the 
faith  in  which  I  was  nurtured ;.  ay !  and 
knelt  in  the  conventicles  of  heresy,  while  in 
spirit  and  in  truth  a  Catholic  Ay !  smile 
as  thou  wilt,  since  ?|iy^  hopes  are  ^ow 
blasted.  ,  TJiill  play  the  hypocrite  no  longer ; 
but,  methinks,  utter  all,  that  this  last  and 


f  n 


i-  i 


188 


KBD   HAKD   OP   ULSTER. 


v*v 


.«\^ 


greatest  proof  pi  my  all-absorbing  passion 
should  move  thee,  at  least  to  compassion." 

"Thouart  mistaken,  then,"  returned  Ara- , 
bella  coldly  ;    "it  rather  moves  me  to  con- 
tempt.    I  suspected  this  long  ago,   and   I 
tell  thee,  that  one  suspicion  did  much  to 
turn  my  mind  against  thee.     He  that  prevari- 
cates in  the  great  affair  of  religion,  for  any 
humaii  motive,  is  unworthy  of  being  loved! " 
So   saying,   she   thjrew   off  his   grasp,   and 
walked  back  towar4s  her  former  plafce,  while 
O'Reilly   followed  with  j^  countenance  so 
desponding,  so  blank,  ^s  it  were,  that  Bag- 
>?nal  saw  at  a  glance  how  this  last  trial  had 
ended.     Darting  forward  then,  he  confronted 
his  sister  in   her  stately  march   across  the 
room.     **  How  now,  mistress,"  he  tauntiiigly  v 
cried j  "whither  wouldst  thou  go ? " 
;  "I  would  quit  this  room,  brother,  with 
thy  permission,  a)5  my!  presence  here  is  no 

longer  required." 

"But    it     is    required  1  *'    her^dthfer 
exclaimed,  stamping  on  the  ground  in  a  burs^ 
of  passion ;    "  for  thou  shalt  not  go  henfee  tillV 
thou  hast  consented  to  marry  O'Reilly ! " 


BED   HANP   O?   ULSTER. 


18a 


t' Then  I  will  stay  hetfe  wliile  life  is  left 
me,"  returned  Arabella,  with  surprising 
calmness,  **  for,  were  ye  to  tear  me  asunder,  I 
wilinot  consent,— I  could  not ! "      _  LI 

**  And  why,  my  saucy  sister  ?  Is  it,  for- 
sooth, because  thou  art  resolved  to  have 
thine  own\«^  I " 

**  It  is,  Hehry  Bagnal,  for  the  best  of  all 
reasons,— that  I  ^  already  a  wife ;  and,  were 
I  not,  still  wouldN^  riot;  consent  to  marry 

km!"  ■  ■    \.  ,X,,.    .  / 

"  Thou  k  wife ! "  cried  botli  .her  hearers, 
standing  aghast  at  the  announcement ;  for 
both  knew  Arabella  too  well  to  suspect  her 
of  either  fabricating  a  falsehood,  or  using  a 
prevarication.  **  Iti  the  name  of  all  the 
devils,"  shouted  Bagnal ,  "  w;hen,  lib^w,  or 
where,  didst  thou  become  a  wife*?  or  v^^^ho 
hath  dared  to  wed  thee  without  mi 
consent?"  J 

'*  The   when,  how,  or  where,  is  of  little 
♦moment,"  said  Ar?il?ella  proudly,   "and  for 
him  vrhohaih.  dared  to  receive  my  vows,  he 
maHsoon  answer  for  himself." 


in 

I  If 


Bagnal  now  turned  to  O'Reilly,  who>  pale 


■M- 


■V-  *; 


IV 


190 


R^D  HAl^P  OP   ULSTER. 


L-         1     ■  ,  .  ■       ■  -  .  ,  .1.  ■ 

as  death,  liad  tKrown  Jiimself  on  a  seat,  and 
asked,  "What  is  now  to  be  done?  Methinks 
it  were  well  to  put  this  obstinate  wench 
under  lockand  key.  Confinement  and  low 
allowance  may  bring  her  to  confess  the 
name  of  her  partner  in  guilt !  ** 

*'  In   guilt  I "   retorted   Arabella,   with   a 
scornful  accent ;  "  have  a  care  what  thou  say-^ 
est,    Henry    Bagnal  1     He   whom    I   have 
chosen  from^U  mankind^  stands  as.  far  ele- 
';^ated  above  the  crowd,  by  his  nobleness  of 
mind  and  rare  virtues,  as  by  his  rank." 
.^  '^Then  tell-  ns  who  he  is,  lady ! "   said 
O'Reilly,   coming   forward,   "  and  we   may 
perchance  adopt  thy  views  of  this  paragon ! " 
There  was  a  biting  sarcasm  in  His  tone  that 
moved  Arabella  more  than  all  she  had  yet 

heard^ 

^<  I  recognize  no  right  which  thou  hast  to 
question  me,  and  will  thank  thee  not  to 
interfere!" 
^  Upon  this,  Bagnal  lost  all  cohtK)!  of  his 
passion,  and  seizing  Arabella^  he  shook  her 
violently  by  the  shoulder,  Q-Reilly,  under 
the  influence  of  his  own  anger;  standing  by 


•   V 


;■,.,■  ;.■.■■    .'   ;■■  v    ■■'^''r 

BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


191 


J 


without  oflRering  to  prevent   tliis   unmanly 
violence.     At  this  moment,  two  doors  of  the 
apartment  opened;;  from  one  rushed  in  Mrs. 
Wilmoti  alarnle'd   by   the   loud   Voices   she 
heard,   while  by  the  other   entered   Hugh 
O'Neill.      **  Oh   my   lord  !  "   cried    cousin 
Eleanor,   "at  what    a  moment   dost    thou 
come  I "— ^while  Arabella,  breaking  away  from^ 
her  brother's  relaxing  grasp,  threw  herself 
into  the  arms  of  Tyrone,  and  sobbing  out, 
**  Thank  God  thouJKt  here  1 '*  ehe  clung  to 
him  as  a  timid  child  fe  its  mother's  bosom. 
*  «Vainly  would  I  attempt  to  describe  the 
►scene  which  followedj-^the  stormy  anger,-^ 
the  rage  even  of  Bagnal,  and  the  mingled 
pain  and  jealous  resentment  of  O'Reilly,  on 
discovering  whp*  was   his   successful   rival. 
Grieved  he  was  io  find  that  the  man  whom  of 
"all  others  he  1^  admired,  and  even  loved, 
was  the  same  who  had  carried  off  the  prize 
himself  had   so  eagerly,    so  wildly  sought, 
while  his  envy  was  increased  from  anger  to 
a  species  of  fury  bjr  the  sight  of  that  tender 
a&d  'trustful  love  which  Arabella  took  no 
pai^  to  conceal.     Mrs.  Wilmot,  good  soul! 


m 


'"'■jf. 


■■>S7 


X*^ 


■^>f 


MV' 


I 
i^^- 


192 


lUED  BAND  OF  ULSTl 


W&8  dissolved  .in  tears,  and  O'Neiir  alone 
If  as  calm  and  collected,  like  8ome\rock  of 
the  sea,  which  rears  its  head  proudly  over 
the  dashing  waves,  and  calmly  confronts  the 
wildest  outbreak  of  the  storm. 

With  a  smile  of  cool  contempt  he  listened 
to  the  alternate jreproaches  and  menaces  of 
O'Reilly,  and  to  the  more  vindictive  reviling 
of  Bagnal  ;  bu^,  availing  himself  of  a 
moment  when  neither  was  able  to  continue 
the  attack  without  taking  breath,  he  drew . 
Arabella's  arm  quietly  within  his  own,  say- 
ing, as  ht  did  so,  "  Let  us  go,  my  Arabella ; 
we  have  many  a  mile  to  cross  ere  we 
reach  our  home."  Arabella  whispered  some 
directions  to  her  cousin,  who  instantly  quit- 
ted the  room*  HereB^nal  stepped  between 
O'Neill  and  the  dqor,  and  called  aloud  for 
some  of  his  people.     But  no  one  came,  and 

the  earl  latiglied  for  the  first  time  since  his 

i  ■  '-■■'■■■.'  ■'■.■ 

entrance, 

«  Thinkest  thou,  then,  that  I  came  hither 
on  such  an  errand  without  being  prepared  to 
carry  o.ut  my  purpose  ?  Sir  Henry  Bagnal, 
the  gates  of  N^wry  are  guarded  by  the  stout 


,.:a-_ 


■f. 


"5  ■-»  ■ 


M^' 


198 


-■it 


>    VKBD   HAND   OV hlLWmtC 

cUnsmeii  of  Tyr-owen/    A  force,  such  as 
thou  canst  not  resist,  awnits  me  without  these 
doors,  so  that  thy  sentries  are  useless.     EVen^^^ 
in  the  hall,  beyond  that  door,  itand  soinft^ 
twenty  or  thirty  of  my  gallow-glasses,  al^d  it 
were  worse  than  madness  in  thee  to  resist. 
Thy  troops,  having  no  orders  from  thee,  ana. 
seeing  me  and  mine  so  often  admitted  on 
peaceful  terms,  have  suffered    us    to    enter 
unmolested ;  and  now,  that  my  men  have, 
unawares,  take©  .j^oS^^sion  of  the  g5|0s,  we 
xandef^  all  opposition.     Move  from  niy  way, 
then/ that  I  may  pass,  with  my  wife! '^ 

The  news  which  l^e  had  just  heard  might 
well  blanch  the  cheek  of  BagiXal ;  yet  still  he 
moved  not  from  his  position,  and  said,  in  a 
Jiaughty  tone,  1  *  "^^  y-  >i 

**  1  must  first  knotv  whether  this  marriage 
be  legal;  1  would  know  who  it  was  that 
performed  thei  ceremony." 

/"^I  have  no  obiection  that  thou  shouldst 
know,"  retui-ned  Tyirone,  with  the  utmost 
composure,  "it  was  my  chaplain,  the  saTne 
who 'some  time  since  escaped  from  thy 
friendly-grasp,  much  against  thy  will !  "       ^ 


h': 


~K 


194 


.y.     ,< 


RBlf  HAND  OF  VtBTttti 


'It 


Ha  I  •*  cried  Bagnal  and  P'Rejlly,  simul- 
tancoufily,  and  both  laughed  exultingty ; 
•f  then  the  marriage  is  null  and  void*  which 
th6ti  canst  not  deny ;  for  How  could  a  popish  ^ 
priest  marry  two  parties  qfiii?  of  whon^^was  a 
^Protestant  ?  "  <  ■.  -.■■  ,  .  ;  f  X'-' 
>    This  latter  question  canie  from  Bagnal. 

"Nay,  ask  Arabella  if  Ht  be  so,"  said  the 
earl  calmly,  whereupon  JtKe  lady,  without 
heeding  the  question,  replied,  "I  atn,  and 
have  been,  for  some  tjme  past;  a  Cathojj^c  ; 
thou  seest,"  she  added^iirning  to  Q'Reilly, 
with  a  significant  look,  **  so  mudh'  for  what 
thou  didst  confide  to  me  a  little  while  ago." 

"  My  God  ^"  cried  th^  unhappy  young 
man,  and  an  ashy  paleness  overspread  his 
fine  features,  **my^God,  how  justly  d<»*^ 
merit  this  galling  woundl  " 

-  Seeing  these  symptotos  of  relenting  soft- 
ness, O'Neill  approached  and  offered  his 
hand  to  O'Reilly,  saying,  in  a  low  voice, 
«jWhy  should  we  not  still  be  friends, 
O'^illy  ?  Arabella  had  blessed  me  with  her 
JQve,  aa  she  can  tell  thee,  ere  she  had  ever 


T    t. 


RED   HAND   OP   ULSTER. 


195 


^ 


reveal  to  me,  on  quitting  DunganftQp^  thy 
purpose,  nor  even  the  pli||^  of  thy  tiestrao^r 
tii^.     How  am  1,  then,  to  hlame?" 

But  096  glance  at  Arabella,  (who  was  now- 
putting  dn  a  travelling  cloak,  brought  her  by 
Mistress  Eleanor,)  "Wixa  sufficient  to  harden 
O'Eeilly's  heart  against  the  generous  attempts 
of  the  earl  to  effect  a  reconciliation,  and, 
while  withholding  his  hand,  he  said,  with 
sullen  and  dogged  resolution : 

**  Never!  never  shall  our  hands  meet 
again  in  friendship ;  rivals  we  hate  been, 
although  unknown  to  each  other ;  foes  we 
must  h^efcrward  be  I  "  ' 

*  JBagnat,^i^hQ  had  watched  "Jhis  little  epi** 
sode  ii%h  suspijBi»T^s  eyesj^hoV  called  out, 
^'ital^is  eveji  the  great  earl  susceptible  6£/ 
fear  ?  U  thoii^ast  any  secret  of  his,  O'^illy^ 
which  h^  would  fain  have  concealed,  we  can 
bravely  repay  him  for  this  day*s  wofk.     So , 

let  him  go  hence,  in  the  name  of  all  that 's 

■  •-badJ.'VV.  ..;>:  ;^v;..;;..  o',,;^  ;,,,;,.-■•;....,;... 

:^     7'Nay,  :Bagnal,*'   s^  O'Reilly,  hastily, ' 
/'I  didnot  say,  t  did  not  even  faint,  that  I 
ha^,  any  secret  of^is  in  my  keeping  ;  1  said 


'■sSf^"-' 


■K: 


.^., 


<i  "V 


196 


Kim  HAND  ftp  ULSTER 


we  were  to  be  h^ceforward  foes,  and  that 
alone."     NevertReless,  seeing  that  O'Neill 
ii  had  opened  the  door,  he  glided  up  to  Ara- 

bella, and  sald,>in  a  low,  hissing  toile,  "  An' 
thou  loVest  that  man,  thou  hast  cause  to 
tremble;-for,  greatas  he  thinketh  himself,  he 
is  at  O'Reilly's  mercy.*'         *  V 

"Not  so  much  as  hte  may  suppose,**  said 
O'Neill,  in  the  same"^  S#^ne ;  for  he  had" 
dverheard  the  threat.  *•  And  yet,  O'Reilly, 
I  defy  thee  not ;  for  it  doth  grieve  my  soul 
to  think  of  thee  but  as  a  friend.  Mistress 
Eleanor,"  he  said  aloud  to  the  old  lady  who 
stood  near  Arabellary  muffled'  as  for  a  journey, 
"  Mistress  Eleanor,  the  halls  of  Dungannon 
have  room  for  thee,  if,  as  I  well  believe, 
thou  wouldst  fain  accompany'  thy  kins- 
woman;" The  offer  was  gratefully  accepted 
by  th^  worthy  duenna,  and  Bagnal  called 
ptit,  with  a  forced  laugh  f 

"Ay,  let  her  go-^p  the  devil,  if  she  lists 
such  a  journey ;  for,  I  trow,  those  same  halls 
of  Dungacnnon  are  a  portion  of  his  imperial 
dweiling.  .  Take  her  an'  welcome  ;  good  my 
lord!  and  may  the  treachery  of  the  garrison 


*^...  •„-<■- *^ 


[  >)*>,»  11  ilj||llij>»ji;lM^ 


'  •'  / 


BBP   HAND  OF   ULSTER. 


m 


go  with  her,  and  my  precious  sister,  (t  beg 
her    ladyship's    pardon,)   the    countess    g{ 
Tyrone."     The  keen  irony  of  tone,  and  his 
W^  how  of  mock  respect,  more  insulting 
still,  was  only  answered  by  a  contemptuous 
lo^k  from  the  earl,  and  a  mild  "farewell ^ 
from  Arabella,  and  they  passed  through  the 
doors,  followed  closely  by  the  hooded  and 
cloaked  form  of  Eleanoti    .But^f  though  the 
hall  was  indeed  filled  with^Omill's  people, 
he  was  not  suffered  to  pJisis  out  uiimolested, 
albeit  that  Bagnal,  *  himself,  wh^n  he  peered 
through  the  door,  was  fain  to  restrain  his 
tongue.     The  earl  and  hi8^)ride  had  nearly 
reached  the  door  when  they  espied,  seated 
on  the  first  step  of  the  spiral  staircase,  the 
ungainly  form  of  the  witch,  Elspeth; 
'« See  here,   O'Neill,*'  she   cried,  as  he 
approached,  "thou  hast  taught  thy  boors  to 
despise  my  power— nay,  thef  laugh  at  me, 
but,"  and  she  swore  a  horrible  oath,  "  I  will 
make  thyself  tremble  at  iny  name.     How 
now!"  she  shouted  again,  starting  from  her 
seat  with  the  alacrity  of  youth,  for  just  then 
she  caught  a  glimpse  of  >  Arabdla's  face,  as 


'■T 


m 


BED  HAND  OV  ULSTER. 


she  walked  on  the  farther  side  of  the  earl; 
"how  now,  who  hast  thou  there?"  She 
would  have  approached  close  to  v  Arabella^ 

_  1  J>ut  O'Neill  kept  her  back  with  his  hand. 
"Ha,  ha f"  she  shouted,  ^nd  qlapped  her 
hands   wildly  together,    "  then  my   dream 
was  not  for  nothing  ;  the  Irish  wolf-dog  bear- 

^eth  away  the  fairest  hind  of  the  herd.  .jO, 

^woe  the  day !  woe  the  day!  Bagnal!  Sir 
Henry !  knoweist  thou  of  this  ?  "  She  screamed 
at  the  top  of  her  cracked  and  dissonant^  voice, 
keeping  all  the  irhile  right  in  front  of 
Arabella. 

"That  do  I,  EJspeth !  my  worthy  woinan ! " 
answered  the  marshal  from  within  the  still- 
open  door.     "It  is  his  day  now  ;  purs  is  to 

■  ."xome  !  !'*  ■ 

"  Is  it  so  ?  "  shouted  Elspeth  again,  *'  then' 
\9Xt  thou  a  very  craven ;  that  do  I  tell  thee  to 
thy  face,  Harry  B^nal ;  else  wouldst  thou 
not  bear  this  fpiQ  ,wrong  so  tamely.  But,_ 
by  the  wa,nd  of  the  mighty  Egyptian,  it  shall 
not  end  so !  "  And,  before  any  one  dreamed 
of  her  purpose,  the  infuriate  hag,  drawing  a 


BBD  BAND  OF  T7LSTER; 


199 


aimed  a  bW  at  the  earl  as  he  passed  her, 
which  would  inevitable  have  been  fatal  had 
iiot  her  arm  been  struck  down  on  the  instant , 
by  a  stalwart  hand  from   behind.     At  the 
same  moment;  her  arms  were  pinioned  at  her 
back  by  the  sinewy  grasp  of  on^  4f  O'NeiU's 
followers,   being  none   other  tiban  our   old 
acquaintance,  Teague  G'Hagan^  who  had  an 
old  grudge  towards  ElspetK,    "  Now,"  he 
said  with  a  laugh,  which  was  echoed  froin 
his  comrades  around,  "  Now  let  us  see  how 
your  witchship  can  wrestle.     O,  then,  faith, 
there  never  was  witch  or  banshee  that  cduld 
kick  and  plunge  as  then  dost.     Look  here, 
now,4>6y8;  my  name's  notTeague  O'Hagaiji 
but  she  can   use  her   old   feet  and  hands 
jiist  as  if  she  was  real  flesh  and  blood.   That 's 
it ;  another  like  that  j  but  would  your  lord- 
'    ship  and  the  kdy,"  addressing  O'Neilli/."  b# 
pleased  to  pass  on;   for  I'll  just  tie  the 
bansh^  to  the  post  here." 

^*  But  I  pray  thee,  do    not  harm?  her, 
JGriend,"  said  Arabella,  a  request  which  the/ 
earl  enforced  by  ^  positive  command. 
^'No.  not  the  devil  a  harm  I 'U  do  toy 


*': 


sm 


!BJSJ>  HAND   OF  XJLSTBB. 


my  lord  ;  I  'd  scorn  to  hurt  a  woman,  let  her 
be  ever  so  bad.     0,  never  fear,  my  lady !  *^ 

The  earl,  with  his  t^vo  companions,  hurried 
away,  and  honest  Teague  failed  not  to  secure 

the  jbeldamie,  though  her  own  wild  screams 

.....  ./  * 

and  desperate  efforts  to  get  loose  were  backed 
by  the  remonstrance  of  the  sentry,  at  the 
door,*  who  had  now  summoned  a  'sergeant's 
guard  to  his  post.  "  Haye  patience,  now," 
said  Teague,  in  English,  "and  don't  bother 
your  heads  about  her ;  sure  she 's  a  wise 
Woman,  and  can  loosen  the  hardest  knot  I  '11 
tie,  with  a  word  of  her  mouth.  There,  now 
-^-stay— just  another  knot— musha,  she  has 
no  patience  at  all,  boys!  but  may*be  she 
wants  Henderson  to  do  the  business ;  we  all 
know  he's  an  old  friend  of  her's  !  *'  This 
drew  forth  another  volley  of  curses  from 
Elspeth j  and  a  fresh  burst  of  laughter  from 
the  soldiers  of  O'Neill,  amid  which  admix- 
ture of  sounds  the  latter  q;uitted  the  hall^ 
holiest  Teague  making  a  low  bow  to  Elspeth, 
as  he  went,  and  saying,  **  Which  of  us  is  the 
jgreatest  fool  now — thou  or  I  ?  "    So  saying. 


■\ 


ilBD  HAND  OF  TJLSTBB. 


201 


ihinutes  the  whofe  long  line  of  cavalry  was 
in  motion,  and^t>a8^d  the  gates  without  oppo- 
iition,  the  earl,  who>a8  one  of  the  last,  tak- 
^g  *  courteous  leave  ^  some  efficers,  who 
stood  near,  in  a  group,  m:^velUng  nmch,  no 
doubt,  at  the  gallant  show  made  by  these  wUd  ^: 

Irish  clansmen. 

And  thus  did  O'Ufeill  bear  off  in  triumph 
the  fewest  lady  iirUlster,  as  it  was  fitting 
he  shbild.     As  they    journeyed '  along   on 
their  homeward    track,  Arabella  gave  her 
husband  a  full  detail  of  the   rise  and  prog-  ^. 
ress  of  O'Reilly's  unsuccessful  weoing,  and 
remarked  that  her  brother  must  have  had 
some  suspicions  from  the  first  touching  her 
sentiments  of  him  whom  he  ever  considered 

as  his  enemy.     "For,"  said  she,  "I  can 
now  understand  that  considerable  pains  must 
have  been  taken  to  keep  me  ignorant  of  the 
lady  Judith's  death."^  In  this  opinion,  good 
Mistress   Eleanor  coincided,  having,  as  she 
said,  been  present  on  various  occasions  when 
Sir  Henry  had  spoken  of  the  earl's  vnfe  as 
still  living,  though  he  must  have  been  weU 
aware  of  her  death.  ; 


^■'■■•X\i4- 


^fim 


BED  HAm^t)?  ULSTER. 


**v 


v^One  thought  alone   thr^w  a  gloom  over 
'^Arabella's  mind,  and  that  was  the  remem- 
brance of  O'Beilly's   menace.     In  vain  did 
the  earl  combat  this  apprehension ;  for,  as  the 
little  she  did  know  of  Miles  was   any  thing 
but  creditable  to  his  character,  so  she  could 
not  be  persuaded  but  he  would  put  his  threat 
'inta  execution.     Yet,  ere   halif  the  joijm^ 
to  Pungannon  was  made,  she  had  so  fer  sup- 
pressed all   visible  signs  of  Uneasiness  that 
none  of  the  party  seemed  gayer  than  she. 

For  many  days  ther^  was  a  joyous  festival 
in  and  around  the  baronial  dwelling  of  the 
O'Neill.  The  halls  were  thrown  open  and 
a  cheerful  welcome  given  to  all  comers,— to 
the  poor  and  the  rich,  the' humble  clansman 
no  less  than  his  stately  lord.  The  harpers 
of  Tyr-owen  made  the  clairseach  vocal  with 
the  sounds  of  joy,  and  the  heart  of  the  Eng- 
lish bride  was  moved  to  a  brighter,  more 
sparkling  sense  of  happiness,  while,  leaning 
on  th(5  arm  of  her  noble  husband^  she  drank 
in  the  glad,  triunjphant  melody.  And  when, 
changing  their  measure  and  their  theme,  the 
bards  launched  out  into  the  praises  of  the 


A.  ■;"•■■    -•  iij   '^  ■' 


«'F^3'^"\  » 


UBD  HAND  Ot  UtSTltB. 


«08 


princely  line  of  O'Neill,  and  sang  the  ancient 
Klories  of  the  race,  she  felt  as  though  she, 
too,  should  have  been  bom  of  the  house  of 
Niall ;  and  then  c^e  home  to  her  throbbing 
heart  the'fuU  extent  of  the  dignity  to  which 
she  hadbeen  so  lately  raided.     "I  have  been 
wont,"  said   she,  in  an  undertone,  to  the 
e^rl,  "to  look  back  with  pride  to  the  chival- 
xous  feats  of  my  knightly   ancestor^  j^but 
what  is  the  noblest  of  them  all  to  this  Niall 
of  the  Nine  Hostages,  and  that  other  Con  of 
the  Hundred  Battles,  of  whom  these  inspired 

minstrels  sing  so  gloriously  ?  "  -. 

« Nay,  my  Arabella,"  returned  Tyrone, 
in  the  same  suppressed  tones,  /'I  will  not 
*  have  thee  view  the  matter  thus;  thy  fore- 
fathers, thcwigh  neither  kings  nor  princes, 
toay  have  bfeen  good  men^and  true,— loyal  gen. 

tlemen  and  good  Ghrisaan8,^and,  as  such, 

in  no  way  less  honorable  to  their  descendants 

;  than  those  to  whom  fortune  gave  crowns  and 

golden  collars"  .  t. 

"And  yet,"  observed  the  countess  with  a 
smile,  (it  was  a  melancholy  smile  tdo,)  *' and 
yet  how  little  cause  hast  thou  above  all  W^ 


■',;•; 


S^ 


^S^ft 


1    , 


1p     *.X! 


;^ 


204 


RED   HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


to  judge  favorably  of  our  race,  since  its  pres- 
ent representative  hatK  ever  acte^  towards 
thee  so  base  a  part." 

Just  as  she  spoke  a  young  man  of  singu- 
larly engaging  aspect,  separating  himself 
from  a  group  of  chiefs  who  stood  around  an 
aged  harper,  advanced  towards  the  earl  and 
countess  where  they  stood,  and  Tyrone,  in 
reply  to  his  wife's  remark,  said  in  a  playful 
;  tone: '        ■  ■■  ^  ■ 

"No  more  strictures,  an' thou  lovest  me, 
on  men  of  Norman  blood,  for  here  comes,  as 
though  to  shame  thee,  one  of  the  truest- 
hearted  and  most  patriotic  of  Ireland's  sons, 
although  of  unmixed  Norman  lineage." 
And  well  might  Tyrone  say  so,  for  it  was 
Richard  Tyrrell  who  now  approached^-the 
same  who  upheld  the  national 'standard 
when  even  the  bravest  and  noblest  of  the 
native  chiefs  shrank  despairingly  from  far- 
ther resistance  ;  and  who,  on  many  a  bloody 
field,  in  after  times,  displayed  a  heroic  devot- 
edness rarely^surpassed.  Oh!  could  O'Neill 
have   looked   forwarii 


BiD  HAND  OF  tTLBTBB. 


205 


{  ■ 


■     ■  -  .  '    ■    -  .    ■ 

ihe  briUiant  victory  of  Tyrreire  Pass,  and 
the  unconquerable  love  of  freedom   which 
nerved  the  arm  of  the  youthful  hero,  how 
doubly  kind  would  have   been   the   greet- 
ing     with    which    he     met    that    young 
Normal  of  tKe  Pale.     There  was.  as  I  have    . 
said,  something  uncommonly  prepossessing 
in  Tyrrell's  countenance,  yet  it  was  not  that 
the   features   taken    individually    could   be 
called  handsome,  but  rather  because  of  the 
high  and  even  noble  expression  stamped  on 
all,  coUectively.     His  ey^  were  of  the  dark- 
est  blue,  but,  when  animated  by  any  very 
strong  emotion,  they  sparkled:  as  black  eye^ 
only  do,  so  that  their  hue  might  be  said  to 
vary  with  the  transitions  of  the  mind.     His 
black  hair  was  divided  in  the  middle  of  the 
head,  and  hung  down  on  either  side,  after 
the  manner  of  the  native  Irish,  and,  indeed, 
the  whole  air  and  bearing,  not  less  than  the 
dress  of  the  young  mkn/ was  that  of  a  Celtic 
chief;  proud^f  His   country   and   hneage. 
Like  the  Geratdines  of  the  old  time,  Bichaxd 
TyrreU  liras  "more  than  Irish 'V in  thought, 
ill  ieeUng,  and  in  sympathy,  albeit,  that  Ms 


%r*^  i'V'^^'v  "  ■" ' 


-W,; 


m 


BED   HAND  OF  tTLSTER. 


■■HP, 


face  was  stamped  with  the  strong,  bold  lines 
of  his  Norman  ancestry. 

"In  faith,  sweet  lady,*'  he  said,  on  com- 


ing near,  "I  should  crave  thy  pardon,  as 
the  fair  embodiment  of  En^^ish  blood,  for  I 
have  been  listening  to  the  old-world  strains 
of  yptfdfflr  barll,  till  I  had  well*  nigh  forgot- 
ten that  I,  at  least,  had  no  pjirt  in  the  glories 
of  which  he  sings." 

"Nay,  good  master  Tyrrell,"  returned 
Arabella,  with  a  gracious  smile,  "  I  cannot 
censure  4he  fault,  if  it  be  one,  for  I  have 
just  confessed  to  niy  lord  here,  that  I,  too, 
have  been  well  nigh  charmed  by  these  thril- 
ling sounds,  into  a  thoroughly  Irish  state  of 
fieeling." 

The  conversation  now  turned  on,  O'Reilly, 
and  Tyrrell,  to  whom  all  shifting  and  pre- 
varication was  unknown,  could  only  see  in 
his  conduct  the  struggles  of  a  naturally 
noble  nature,  with  the  preju|dices  and  artifi- 
cial feelings  derived  from  his  foreign  train- 
ing.     Arabella   shook   her  head,   but  said 


n6thing,  for,  having,  as  she  believed,  suffi- 
jdent  cause  to  suspect  O'Reilly,  sh6  Would  not 


:■■■■■. ■...:. .-j^r.-; 

EED  HAltD  OF  tn.8TtTt. 


«07 


exprefts  her  opinion.  But  Tyrone  could  not 
for  a  moment  believe  him  capable  of  acturf 
perfidy,  and  freely  gave  it  as  his  conviction 
that  though  Miles  might  stand  aloof  from 
the  national  party,  when  the  grand  struggle  / 
came,  still  he  would  never  stoop  to  turn/ 
■informer— ♦*  No— no,"  said  he^"tolatile 
and  somewhat  inconstant,  he  m^y  be— ajjr, 
and  passionate  in  loVe  or  hate,  but  a  traitor 
—a  voluntary,  wilful  traitor— -oh  no !  I  /can 
never  believe  it.'r  ^    ^  .         ;        / 

A  new  subjects  was  then  started  on  the 
approach  of  did  Tirlogh  Lynnoch  O'Neill, 
who  had   come   from  his  lar-off  home  to 
honor  the  nuptials  of  his  cousin,  gepero^sly 
forgetting  on  so  joyous  an  occasioi^  that  he 
had  sup^rsede^  him  in  his  high  ofl^e.     The 
'fact  was,  that  Tyrone,  in  prosecufion  of  hid 
grand  design,  had  spared  n6  pa^ins  to  con- 
ciliate the  chieffeains  far  and  ne^r ;  and  Tir- 
logh Lynnoch  was  not  hard  to  propitiate, 
"  being  of  an  exceedihgly  placaliAe  disposition. 
Indeed  this  virtue  he  carried  to  excess,  as 
— was  afterwards  seen  by  the  iyifluence  acquired 
aver  him  by  some  Englishmen  whom  he 
Was  persuaded,  like  O'Donnell,  to  receive. 


/•■ 


■/ 


/.  • 


'■^^^  '*, 


r 


SOS 


The  wedding  fjfstrvifKa  wei-e^all  aX  an  end, 
fuid  the  numemus  guests  had  departed,  with 
the  single  exception  of  Tyrrell,  when  one 
day  the  earl  entered  with  an  open  letter  4u 
his   hand,   saying  aloud  as  he  crossed  th^' 

threshold:  ,    '  • 

"Here   now,   Arabella,   Tyrrell   and   all 

irho   were   disposed   to   fear   that   O'Reilly 

linight  turn  informer, — ^listen  whilst  I  read ! " 

e  was  instantly  surrounded  by  a  group  of 

ager    auditors,    even    Father    McNanjara, 

who  chanced  to  he  present)  coming  forward 

« O*  jMBii&ald  j^  leliir,  <'  thou  art 
neithe4HlDnliaer  this  epistle  as  a  mark  of 
forgiveness,  nor  yet  the  outpouring  of  wrath, 
llhrough  thee  have  I  lost  what  alone  !w^ould 
hive  made  life  a  blessing,  and  that  life  shall 

devoted  to  oppose  thy  views;    I  oi^  li^: 
though  my  conduct  be  condemned,  by  th/ 
palrty  ;  with  them  I  have  never  leagued  save 
foil  one  hour,  and  the  bond  then  formed  was 
qu^cffly  cancelled,     Thoii  hasfr  won  Arabella 


Bagnalr-keep  her,  but  so  shall  I  keep  my 
faith  iP^ith  Elizabeth  of  England,  to  whom 
^inyj^lifst  vows  of  allegiance  were  giy6n. 

.    €■  '      ;■■■  ^^' '•■■.;  :.■," 


«     fnii,  %4k  ' 


i"^. 


;Wi 


•r  ■ 
US. 


RBD  HAND  tJlW  VUmU 


Ireland  and    her  people  are  now  liitle 
nought  to  me — England!  and  the  English 
for  their  strength  will  shortly  be  arrayed 
against  thee  and  thine— Kxgai  net  thee  whom  I  H 
have  learned  to  hate ;  and  thy  foes  must  be 
my  friends.     Yet  think  not,  Tear  jiot,  that 
Milea  O'Reilly  will  ever  betray  his  knowl- 
edge of  thy  persevering  efforts  to  orfanize 
the  people ;  to  avail  himself  of  that  knowl- 
edge were  treachery,  foul,  mfean  treachery, 
which  must  never  be  linked  with  his  ancient 
name.     Say,  then,  to  her  who  is  now  thy 
wife,  that  my  words  at  parting  were  but 
an  idle  threat,  spoken  in  Ite  excruciating 
anguish  of  the   moment,  bat  never  to  be 
ftpted  upon.     I  would  not  that  she  shpdid 
lodk  ilpoj^me  as   a  traitor,  despised   and 
rejected  though  I  be.**     Thie  was  the  sum 
and  substance  of  the  letter,  and  it  caused  an 
entire  revulsion  in  the  feelings-pf  all  present 
witKthe  exception  of  the  earl,  who,  akhough 
:both  pained  and  gratified  by  its  contents,  still 
read  thai|i  without   surprise,  for  this  ^as 
what   he  liad    expected    from  Ihigi 


^x 


act^ 
knowledge  of  0'Reilly*s  character. 


JL. 


14^ 


> 


I 


.,^f---. 


\ : 


£10 


I'Wfi 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER.    ..^, 


f'So  ^e  are  Still  to  have  him  foif  a  foe," 
was  TyrreU's  exclamation ;  while  Arabella 
said,  with  a  musing  air,  "Who  ever  heaid 
of  so  strange,  so  inconsistent  a  character,  and 
yet  he  is  far  from  heing  so  bad  as  1,  in  my 
■unchantableness,  had  believed  him." 

f^Nor  is  his  character  so  inconsistent,  my 
SWee^  wife,'*  said  Tyrone,  with  ♦a  smile,  "it 
is  only  that  his  passions  are  too  strong  for 
either  his  reason  or  his  patriotism  to  with- 
stand ;  and  thou,  above  all,  should  never 
speak  hardly  of  his  desertion,  since  we  are 
to  attribute  it,  as  he  himself  doth,  to  his  loss 
of  the  dainty  morsel  on  which  his  heart  was 

set"';  ■■■  /x.-;:;^;.-'  -■;;^-;V::^':;- .^ 
It  Inight  have  been  some  six  or  eight  weeks 

after  this,  thsit  a  stranger,  of  noble  bearing, 

arrived,  in  the  dusk  of  evening,  at  the  castle 

of  Dungannon,  and  asked  to  see  the  Prince 

of    Ulster.      The    title,    though   O^NeiU's 

hereditary  distinction,  was  seldom  applied  to 

him  by  the  neighboring  chief);ains,  and  never 

by  the  English.    It  was,  therefore,  with  some 

curiosity  that  he  advanced  to  meet  his  visitor. 

honor  of  seeing  his  highness 


^pti    —  ■"        r- 


y 


&1^   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


m 


■■(■ 


die  Prince  of  Ulster  t "  inquired  the  stranger, 
speaking  English  with  contiiderable  difficulty. 
The  earrs  rteply  was  in  the  Spainish  tongue, 
for  the  thought  at  once  struck  him  that  the 
noble-looking  stranger  was  of  that  nation. 
He  was,  aud  the  beaiGr  of  ia  special  convmufii-  " 
cation  from  King  Philip  to  the   Earl'^of 
Tyrone,  writteii  with  his  own  roy^l   hi^d, 
urging  him  to  spe6d  onward  in  his  operations, 
audi  assuring  him  of  speedy  succor,  such  as 
a  king  might  send.     "  We  have  long  watched 
with   interest,"  wrote  ^^    monarch,  "  the 
struggles  of  thy  nation,  to  preserve  our  com- 
mon faith,  but  we  have  hoped  in  vain^  for  a 
leader  to  appear  amongst  ye,  having  those 
powers  and  abilities  which  might  ensure  suc- 
cess, ?ind  give  a  certain  and  fixed  character 
to  the  national  movement>-^but  noy  we  are 
rejoiced  to  recognise  in  the  pruw^lf  O'N'eiU 
many,  very  many  of  those  xiualities  which' 
mark  out  the  agent  of  a  ^reat  design ;  in 
thee,    noble    prince,   whom    we    willingly 
hail  as  the  offspring  of  a  kindred  line ;  itt_ 
thee,  then,  do  we  acknowledge  the  true  and 
rightful  captain  of  the  \mh  nation,  and  we 


'h 


Jtw^i,  r.f'  "  '"> 


£12 


BED   HAND   OF  pI^EB. 


pray  God  that  thoi^  mayest  be  a  second 
Moses^  destined  to  lead  that  faithful  and  long- 
enduring  people  fromgdie  iron  bondage  of 
the  heretic.  In  ptod^PJour  intention  to  aid 
thee,  both  with  J|iip|%nd  money,  we  do, 
hereby,  empower  our  trusty  servant,  Don 
Antonio  Marisco^  to  ^ive  thee  a  full  statement 
of  the  fdrce  now  in  preparation  for  the  Irish 

service.  ■  ■■;:,', 
'  Given  at  Madrid^ 

IJnder  the  royal  signet  of  SpMn." 
It  may  be  well  supposed  that  this  embassy 
gave  to  O'Neill  renewed  hope  and  spirit, 
especially  when  he  learned  from  Don 
Antonio  the  amount  of  succor  which  he  might 
reasonably  expect.  As  the  Spaniard  had 
travelled,  unattended,  from  the  nearest  sea- 
port, fearing  to  excite  observation,  so  Tyrone 
Was  enabled  to,  keep  him  at  Dungannon, 
unnoticed,  for  some  weeks,  during  which 
time  they  had  ample  opportunity  to  treat  of 
the  all  important  question  which  formed  th^ 
business  of  the  Spaniard's  mission.  At  his 
departure,  he  was  escorted  by  a  troop  of 
cavalry  to  Derry,  and  was  charged  widrir 


RBD  HAI^D  OF  ULSTER. 


218 


letter  of  acknowledgment  from  O'Neill  to 
his  Most  Catholic  Majesty,  in  which  he 
assuTfid  ^im  that  he  would  take  no  decisivp 
step  till  the  promised  reinforcement  should 


arnye. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


<•  Tctt  not  reTenge  nor  hatred  fired  his  breast. 

But  patriot  zeal,  and  flrmest  sepse  of  right,  tg^ 
And  pity  for  bis  people,  long  oppressed." 
#       *       *  ■     ♦       •    .-  *    .  ■*       *■'■.' 
"Awake!  arise!  what,  ho!  'tis  DeSinond  calls  ;^ 

Sound  the  loud  trumpet  down  the  echoing  Vale!     >  ' 
Bee,  fluttering  from  high,  Shanid's  towering  walls— 
Our  ancient  banner  meets  the  wflBtem  gale." 
That  well  known  cry,  prolonged  firom  dale  to  dale, 
Boused  answering  Wood,'«nd  shore,  and  peopled  hill ; 
*' Desmond  is  come  again."    The  rapturous  tale 
Woke  in'eaoh  listener's  heart  the  welcome  thrill 
Of  ecstacy  returned,  and  old  devoted  seal. 

Gekau)  Gbiffin'b  "  Sharid  Cabm." 


Bijot  this  specious  promise  of  Spanish  aid 
was  soon  after  followed  by  intelligence  of  a 
different  kind>— intelligence  which  made 
O'NeilFs  heart;  bound  with  joyous  expecta- 
tion. It  was  late  one  winter's  evening  when 
a  messenger  arrived  from  Feach  MacHugh 
O'Byme,  of  Wicklo^,  announcing  that  the 


■#■ 


]-- 


„tt 


1814 


RWl  HAND  Ot  UtBTiH, 


young  lord  of  Tyrconnell  had  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  effecting  his  escape  from  prison, 
and  was  then  his  gucSt,  together  with  one  of 
his  oompahions  in  captivity,  the  other  two 
having  perisfied  at  different  times,  when 
escape  had  been  unsuccessfully  attempted. 
Now  this  Wi<;klow  chieftain  had  long  been 
in  secret  communication  with  Tyrone,  and, 
being  privy  to  his  longing  desire  for  O'Don- 
neU's  release,  he  sent  to  him  the  intelligence 
rather  than  to  Donegal.  This  was,  indeed 
joy  for  O'Neill,  who  speedily  despatched  a 
trusty  follower  of  his  Own,  who  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  country,  to  conduct  the 
noble  youths  to  Dungannon.  It  was  indeed 
none  other  than  our  friend  Teagiie  O'Hagan, 
who  had  the  honor  to  be  chosen  for  this  mis- 
sion  of  so  great  a  trust ;  and  when  ht^,  said 
farewell  to  his  comtades,  Hendersoir  "*took 
occasion  to  whisper  in  his  ear^ "Bet^e  of 
meeting  witches  or  banshees  on  the  Way, 
worthy  Teague,  or,  I  trow,  it  may  go  hard 
With  thee!  no  telling  of  fortunes,  good 
friend!  "  To  which  friendly  warning  honest 
Teague  replied  by  a  significant  "  nod  and 
-■■■  -■    ■  ■    ■  ■■■  ■■  "■  --...--^._^:-:r,.. 


'^W^^fWX 


^"^l 


€ 


BKP  HA.XD  OF  ULSTER. 


^15 


'V. 


,,^,  and  wrearii^  ^ 

their  kind,  ynd  expressive  of  that  toodern 
cantphrase/a'muptotrap.^'   -^^^^^      ^^ 
;  So,  beinfe  weU    provided  with    griddle 
c^e^  and  sundry  other  provisions  against 
rtie  attack  of  hunger,  Teague  set  forth  on 
his  journey,  crossing  himself  devoutly  as  he 
passed  the  threshhold,  for  such  wa^  the  uni- 
tom  practice  in  O'NeUl's  country,  where 
the  cross-despising  doctrines  of  the  B^forma- 
tioh  had  obtained  as  yet  no  footing.     And 
Teague  spedweU  on  his  errand,  for  in  i 
wondrou^ly  short  period  he  appeared  again 
at  Ws  cV^eftain's  door,  a  proud  and  a  happy 
man,  for  he  had  with  him  the  long-lost  son 
of  G'bonnell ;  and  when  he  marched  into  the 
presence  of  his  lord,  he  said,  with  a  triumph- 
-  aflt  air^  pointing  to  the  young  chieftain,  who, 
crippled  in  all  his  UmiS,  slowly  advanced  up 

th6  haUi  "There  now,  my  lord,  there  he  is, 
and/if  thav'ntth^  other  young  chief  with 
me  it's  because  he  staid  behind  on  a  visit." 

« So  here  I  am,  0*NeiU! "  saidO'DonneU, 
.^itha  forced  sftiUe,  affer\,he  had  returned 
the  cordial  embrace  of  the  earl^  "but  I  must 
e'eii  sit  down,  for  the  iron  chain  of  the  S^ 


T 


A 

) 


m 


BED  HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


■enach  hath  sunk  deep  into  my  flesh,  and  the 
*•  frost  hath  finished  the  work,  so  I  come  back 
to  the  north  a  cripple,  a  boccach,  Hugh!" 
^and  he  laughed  a  fierce,  wild  laugh* 

O'Neill  could  scarcely  articulate  a  wqrd 
and  his  eyes  filled  with  tears  as  he  ran  over 
the  strangely-altered  lineaments  of  his  young 
friend,  and  read  in  his  pale>  haggard  counte- 
^nance  the  sufferings  of  so  many  years,    ^nd 
then  to  see  his  young  limbs-— erst  so  lithe 
and  supple,  now  maimed  and  cramped  by 
the  heavy  chain  which  had  weighed  so  long 
on  every  membier-—oh,  it  was  too  much,  and 
he  could  only  press  his  outstretched  hand,  in 
silence.     '*  Well,  there  will  come  a  day  of 
retribution!"  cried  O'Donnell,  with  all  the 
energy  of  his  disposition  unsubdued,  it  would 
appear,  but  rather  increased,  by  his  weary 
captivity.     «  Time  rolled  over  my  head,  even 
in  their  clammy  dungeon,  and  the  boy  hath 
grown  to  be  a  man,    Ay,  a  man,"  he  repeated, 
emphatically,  "ready  to  do  and  dare  any-; 
thing  and  everything,  in  justice,  that  may 
tend  to  break  this  hated  yoke  under  which 
the  land' and  the  people  groan! " 

"Ever  the  same,  Hugh!"  cried  Cormac 


r,,^wr-  - 


BED  HAITD  OP  ULSTIK. 


21T 


O'Neill,  who,  having  heard  of  G'Dontieirs 
arrival  entered  at;  the  moment.  "  The  four 
years  pafised  in  prison  have  not,  then,  chilled 
that  ardent  enthusiasm  which  gave  so  fair  a 
promise  in  thy  boyish  days? " 

"  Nay,  Gormac,"  said  Hugh,  when  he  had 
received  and  acknowledged  CNeill's  con- 
gratulatioii,  "  nay,  Cormac,  it  were  strange 
if  they  had.  Hatred  of  the  Saxon  and  his 
odious  tyranny  was  the  passion  of  my  boy- 
hood, how  then  could  the  feeling  be  lessened 
or  damped  by  what  hath  since  occured  ?  N0| 
by  the  blessed  saints  *f  sWear,"  and  he* 
raised  his  enfeebled  arm  on  high,  while  a 
hectic  fire,  the  glow  of  intense  feeling, 
burned  on  his  thin,  hollow  cheek,  "that  the 
years  which  God  may  have  appointed  for  my 
existence,  shall  be  devoted,  wholly,  solely 
devoted,  to  the  liberation  of  this  down-trod- 
den land,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  usurping 
•and  persecuting  English.  Hugh  O'Neill,-^ 
Cormac,  I  know  not  what  may  be  your 
view  of  these  matters,  but  for  me,  I  proclaim 
without  fear  or  reserve,  that  this  shall  be  the 


«id 


RED  HAND  OF  UlST^K. 


,1; 


The  earl  grasped  his  hand  as  he  concluded, 
while  a  smile  of  unmixed  triumph  gilded  his 
nobje  features.  **  This  is  what  I  expected, 
-  HuglLP*Donnell  j  the  hopes  which  I  have 
staked  on  thy  return,  are  more  than  realized, 
and  Tyrconnell  will,  at  length,  shake  off  the 
lethargy  which  hath  so  long  benumbed  its 
powers  of  action.  This  night  will  I  initiate 
thee,  my  gallant  young  friend,  into  the 
projects  which  I  have  been  for  years  endeav- 
oring to  mature,  and  in  whick  th9tt  ar^,  I 
feel  it,  determined  to  bear  so  prominent  a 
part.  Now  I  would  fain  m»^e  thee  acquainted 
with  my  "Vifife.  O'Byrne,  hais,  I  suppose, 
informed  thee  of  poor  Judith's  death,  and 
my  recent  marriage  with  the  lady  Arabella 
Bagnal?"    ■■''■■.  ::-;.vv, 

O'Donneil  relied  ii  the  affirm§rtive>  and 
expressed  his  d^re  t^  be  introduced  to  the 
countess,  of  whose  rare  perfections  he  had 
heard  so  much.  ^  As  thfey  went,  the  earl 
supporting  him  by  the  arni,  while  CortaaC 
walked  on  the  opposite  «ide,  O'Donneil 
breathed  a  pious  prayer  for  the  soul  of  his 
departed  sister,  adding,  immediately,  **  Judith 


.^. 


Ititk  HAND  OF  tJLSTBK.    /  ^19 

had  lier  virtues,  biit  slie  was  too  tntich  of  my 
poor  father's  disposition  and  cast  elf  mind  to 
awaken  or  mjiintain  in  a  heart  like  thine  that 
love    which    brightens    the   married   life." 
Just  theii  they  entered  the  room  where  Ara- 
bella was  seated^  between  her  two  step-chil- 
dren,  conversing  with   Father  MoNamara, 
and  all  painful  remembrances  were  speedily 
drownied  in  the  general  gush  of  joy  which 
followed.     Arabella    was    well    acquainted 
with  the  history  of  O'Donnell's  capture,  nei- 
ther   was   she   altogether    ignorant   of    the 
importatice  her  lord  attached  ta  this  young 
man's   liberation,   and   hers   were  just  the 
heart  and  mind  to  take  a  deep  interest  iti 
sug^  wrougs  as  his,  no   matter  by  whom 
inflicted— nothing  could,  then,  exceed  the 
friendly  warmth   of    her    reception.      The 
priest,  too,  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  noble 
youth  again  at  liberty,  of  whose  early  prom- 
ise he  had  heard  so  much,    "For,"  isaid  he 
to  O'Donneliy  ''  heresy  hath  begun  to  raise 
its  head  in  the  dominions  of  thy  house^-*the 
Eeformation  (as  it  is  called)  hath  wrought, 
its-way  into  Tyrconttell>  and  the  learned 


■%. 


t 


220 


BED  HAND  OF  •ULSTER. 


X 


Monks  of  ihat^gM^at  Abbey  which  thy  pious 
ancestors  foundj^jJKnd  richly  endowed,  have 
bew  driven  forth.  ,by  armed  soldiery,  who 
now  hold  their  place.'  Well  know  I  that 
these  things  would  not  be,  wert  thou^  still 
therd; -and  my  heart  doth  whisper  that  thy 
auspid^feB  .i?^turn  will  set  all  right  again.*'  .  ' 
*"  Ay,  father,"  said  the  young  chiieftain, 
speaking  through,  his  shut  teeth,  while  his 
eyes  shot  forth  the  indignation  of  his  soul-^ 
"Ay,  trust  ine,  their  Reformation  is  at  an 
end  in  Don%»l^-they  shall  go  head  fore- 
most out  of  (he  Abbey- ere  many  days  are 
pfist,  or  mj^  name  is  not  O'DonnielL  Hal 
l^t  mle  have'  but  a  whisper  with  the  ro^n  of 
Tyijconnell — let  me  have  but  a  hundred  of 
the^,  and,  though  these  sacrilegious  Saxons 
numbered  six  times  as  many^  111  teach 
them  to  meddle  with  the  consecfated  homes 
of  piety— that  will  I !  "  and  in  the  bujming 
desire  which  he  j  felt  to  wipe  out  the  foul 
stain  inflicted  in  jhk  absence  on  his  ancestral 
domains,  he  so  faj: /forgot  his  crippled  condi- 
tion  as  to  walk  sekeral  paces  across  the  room. 
But  very  soon  the  remembrance  was  forced 


'M^ 


■'f^ 


VMD  HAND  or  TTtiClHi. 


Ml 


^>-.<" 

■*"'-'' 


ipdn  Mm,  imd  wnking  on  a  seat  he  shook 
his  head  with  a  mournful  smile,  as  though 
he  had  sai%f^*^©  time  is  not  yet  come/ 


While  he  remained  at  Dungannon,  await- 
ing a  perfect  recovery  of  thfiLJise  of  his  limbs, 
he  received  liom  the  earl  a  detailed  account 
of  all  thdse  public  events  which  had  marked 

,  the  period  ol  his  absence.  Of  these,  the  fate 
of  th^  Monaghan  chief  most  deeply  affected 
the  listener,  and  he  could  scarcely  hear  it  told 
with  patience,  vowing  that  he  could  never 
have  stood  tamely  by  while  so  foul  a  deed 
was  perpetrated.  But  when  O'Neill,  in  the 
course  of  lus  narrative,  alluded,  sdthough 
casuulljlr^^  to  the  ereetioii  of  the  neighboring 
folWess,  by  the  EnglSh,  0*Donnell  started  to 

,  his',  feet,  and  glared  fiercely  on  the  jparll 
*«  An,4  didst  thou'  permit  them,  thou,  ifugh 
P'Neil}^  to  plant  their  English  cannon  on  the 
Blackwater?  By  all  my  hopes,  but  thou 
wilt  be  well  served  when  they  are  turned 
against  thyself,  and  mow  down,  in  scores,  thy 
chosen  warriors  i  It  was  tolerated,  I  sup- 
pose,  with  good  intent ;  but  I  understand  not 
this  matter  of  policy,  and  would  sooner  cut 


.:■■  % 


ri 


J  , 


t»2 


Rto  HAND  OF  UL8TVR. 


off  my  right  arm  than  consent  to  tqch  an 
encroachment  1  "      So  chafed  was  his  fiery 
spirit,  by  what   he   looked  on  as  O'Neill V 
fatal  error  of  judgment,  that  the  latter  had 
extreme  difficulty  in  convincing  him  that,  at 
the   time,  it  would  have  been   in  the  high- 
est degree  unsafe  to  oppose  the  design  of 
Elizabeth.^    '* >A.nd,"  said    he,   by  way  of 
deprecating  this    storm    of   anger,    *«  there 
will  be  no  very  great  difficulty  in  taking  it 
from  them,  which,  with  God's  help,  I   pro- 
pose   to    do,    as    the^rst     step     towards 
freedom  !  '*     This  assurance  was  the  very  best 
apology  O'Neill  could  offer,  and  it  quickly 
brought  0*Donnell  back  to  good  humor.        ^ 
Ere  yet  the  young  chieftain  bade  adieu  to 
Pungannon,  he  strenuously  urged  his  host 
to  make  an  immediate  attack  on  Portmore. 
"I  know,"  said  he,  "  that  such  a  step  would 
break  the  ice,  and  call  forth  the  torrent  of 
Elizabeth's  wrath ;  but  let  her  do  her  worst ; 
before  her   troops  can  reach  heipe  in  force* 
from  any  point,  thou  shalt  have  the  men  of 


Tyrconnell    here 


;h    numbers,    that 


in    sucJ 
together  we  can  sweep  the  province.     Put  it 


\ 


:!••.. 


tap  BAND  OF   tLBTnU 


ttB 


off  no  longer,  Hugh,  for  the  sooner  it  comet 
the  better!"     I  ,  V\ 

■'.  In  ordgr  tdWcuse  himself  from  kiting 
what  he  (Sonsidered  so  rasll  a  step,  O'Neill 
mentioned  his  hopes  from  Spain,  and  rested 
particularly  on  the  promise  he  had  volunta- 
rily made  to  Philip,  of  resting  on  his  oars 
while  awaiting  the  promised  aid.  Even  this 
scarcely  satisfied  the  impetuous  0*Do»nell, 
who  was  of  opinion  that"  foreign  succor 
would  never  be  given  till  so^e  success  had, 
been  actually  obtained  ;  hjt»^  ^the  promise 
must  not  be  lightly  broken,  #o  he  .was  forced 
to  ac<]^uie8ce  in  the  policy-of  G'NeiJl, 

in/a  day  or  two  after,  he^^set  ouVfor  Done- 
gal, being  now  simost  entirely  recruited  in 
health  and  strength.  He  was  escorted  by  a 
troop  of  the  cavalry  of  Tyr-owen ;  but  being 
desirous  to  pay  a  passing'visit  to  Maguire  of 
Fermanagh,  (an  old  frierid'  of  his  family) 
tihat  chieftain  sent  back  the  escort  with  a 
courteous  intimation,  *^  that  he  would  send 
0'Donnell  home  with  an  attendance  becom 
ing  liis  rank.  And  so  he  did ;  for  he 
*  manned  a  handsome  boat  with  a  gaily  attired 


HH 


RED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


crew,  and  thus  conveyed  his  honored  guest 
ovet  the  broad  bosom  of  Lough  Erne,  ana 
down  the  rapid  Shannon,  till  he  landed  him', 
at  Bally  shannon,  one  of  the  principal  towns 
of  Tyrconnell,  v 

But  few  days  had  passed  after  thedepart- 
,ure  of  Hugh  Roe,  when  O'Neill  received 
the  surprising  intelligence  that  he  had 
already  driveii  the  English,  some  hundred 
strong,  from  the  Abbey  of  Donegal^;  com- 
pelled them  to  leave  l^hind  the  treasures  of 
which  they  had  possessed  themselves,  and 
j*einstated  the  inonks  in  their  ancient  dwel- 
ling. This  news  Ytos,  speedily  confirmed 
from  under  his  own  hand,  for  he  wrote  to 
O'Neill- a  few  hasty  lines,  descriptive  of  his 
reception  in  Tyrconnell,  and  above  all,  of 
the  expulsion  of  the  Sassenach,  "Tell 
Father  McNamara,"  said  he,  "that  I  have 
redeemed  my  promise ;  and  even  now  doth 
the  sacred  hymn  float  again  over  the  waters 
r  of  the  bay,  from  the  stately  walls  of  its 
abbey,  where  so  lately  the  ribald  song,  and 
the  blasphemous  oath  vras  only  heard.  We 
have  hunted  the  sacrilegious  intruders  like~ 


'•:  •..(1 


EBD  HAND  01?  TTLSTBR. 


225 


a  baiid  of  W6lves,-^ay,  many,  but  n6t  like 
wolves  did  they  resist;  for  no  sooner  did  I 
appear  before  the  abbey,  (with  a  few  hun- 
dreds of  men  hastily  gathered  together)  arid 
send  them  a  c^iL.  message  that  I  gave  them 
twenty-four  hours  to  clear  off  riot  only  from 
the  abbey,  but  from  Tyrconnell  itself,  than 
they  very  submissively  obeyed.  Nor  did 
they  take  a  single  article  of  value  belonging 
to  the  abbey ;  for  I  had  sent  ithem  word  to 
Jeave  all  as  they  found  it,  if  they  did  not 
wish  to  have  their  ears  cropped,  or  some 
such  ceremony  performed,  and  they  chose,  to 
take  the  hint.  Now,  when  I,  a  young  and 
inexperienced  ftian,  can  effect  such  a  thin^ 
at  once,  what,  I  ask,  could  not  the  O'NeiU 
do  ?  In  God's  name,  then,  hoist  thy  stand- 
ards—call together  the  men  of  Tyr-owen, 
and  let  them  see  the  might  that  abides  in  the 
EBD  EIGHT  HAND.  W^t  no  more  for  aid 
which  may  never  come,  but  follow  my  exam- 
ple, and  pounce  at  onc^  on  that  black-look- 
ing Portmore,  whose  very  name  I  cannot 
endure.     Do   so,   and  God  will  bless  the 


■■■  ■  'wi- 


sm 


BSD  HAITD  OF  TTLStEB. 


/'•I 


In  an  additional  line  (which  we  would 
now  call  a  postscript)  he  said  that  his  friend 
Magnire  was  preparing  with  all  speed  to 
attack  the  English  of  Gonnaught,  who,  scat- 
tered as  they  were,  in  parties  here  and  there, 
were  cdntinually  crossing  his  frontier  line, 
and  committing  all  sorts  of  depredations,  to 
the  great  'detriment  of  his  people. 

** So/'  thought  O'Neill,  "events  are 
thickening,  whether  it  be  for  good  or  evil. 
The  arrival  of  O'Donnell  hath  set  fire  to  the 
train,  so  long  and  carefully  laid." 

It  was.  natural  to  expect  that  Tyrone 
would  at  once  have  thrown  his  powerful 
influence  into  the  scale,  and  that  to  '^ho  had 
so  long  looked  for  the  rising  of  tyrconnell, 
woi^d  now  be  ready  to  coopei^te  with  its 
.  energetic  young  chief.  Sucjb,  at  least,  were 
O'Donnell's '  expectatioiis/^and  it  is  not  easy 
toimagine  bis  astonishment,  his  indignation, 
^when  O'Neill,  on  being  commanded  to  assist 
Bagnal  against  Maguire,  moved  forward 
with  a  body  of  cavalry,  and  formed  a  June-  < 
tiom  with  the  English  forces^on  the  north- 
eastern side  of  Maguire's  territory.     The 


;^.« .' 


~^'- 


Bra.  HAIO)  OF  UL8TKEU 


221 


Englishahd  Irish  amies  met^  and  the  latter 
would  have  \>eeu.  victorious,  had  not  0*NeiU 
himself^  being  taunted  by  Bagnal,  led  his. 
troop  across  the  intervening  stream,  and^ 
charged  the  Fermanagh  infantry  with  so 
much  force,  that  they  were  driven  into  dis- 
order, and  Maguire- was  forced  to  retreat. 
In  this  encounter,  the  earl  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  for  many  days 
was  obliged  to  keep  his  bed  from  the  weak- * 
ness  attending  his  great  loss  of  blood.  Yet 
this  wound  was  welcomed  by  him,  for  it 
gave  him  apretiext  to  remain  at  home,  which 
at  that  juncture  he  would  not  otherwise 
have  'done.  Oh  the  night  following  the 
defeat  of  Maguire's  troops,  (with  whom  were 
a  small  number  of  the  clansmen  of  Tyrcon- 
nell)  O'Neill,  hearing  that  Hugh  O'Dbnnell 
had  arrived  in  the  Irish  camp,  sent  his  fos- 
ter-brother Fhelim  across  the  river,  with  a 
letter  to  the  young  chieftain,  in  which '"he 
entreated  his  pardon,  and  that  of  Maguire^ 
f<Mr  his  apparently  unaccountable  conduct. 
He  explained  at  some  length,  that  he  coul4 
not  ))^ve  done  otherwise  than  he  did,  because 


-v 


m 


KSSf  HAND  (ff  TJISTEB. 


he  had  been  disappointed  iti  a  large  supply 
of  ammunition,  whi(^  he  had  ordered  and 
expected  from  France.  "  Thou  ihayest  also 
have  observed,"  said  he,  /^that  I  only 
brought  to  the  English  camp  a  small  body 
of  men;  and  as  to  my  personal  shard  in  the 
encounter,  I  could  not  avoid  making  that 
charge,  unless- 1  instantly  threw  off  the  mask, 
having  been  maliciQusly  twitted  by  Bagnajl 
with  having  a  good  understanding  with  the 
enemy.  What  I  have  now  to  sajLis,  that 
thou  and  Maguire  niust  drjiw  back  into  his 
country,  affecting  to  continue  the  retreat,' 
which  conduct  wilLmaterially  farther  my 
views*  Doubt  me  riot,  Hugh  O'Donnell, 
and  tell  Cuconnac)xt  Maguire  that  he  will 
soon  have  substantial  proof  of  my  real  inten- 
tions. Ddubt  me.not,  then ;  but  for  the  sake 
of  God,  our  Church,  and  our  countryr  do  sis 
I  say ! "  NotwithstandingVthe  ang^  that, 
both  felt  for  Tyrone's  unexpectej^^-jionction 
Mth'the  English,  yet  O'Donnell  p^suaded 
his  friend  to  adopt  4he  advice  so  solemnly  . 
given,  *^  gor/'  s^d  hey  **I  have  jip  doubt; 


BBD  HA»rD  OF  ULSTER. 


229 


nor  can  his  priidence  be  called  in  question,— 
it  is  his  crooked  and  inextricable  policy  that 
I  object  tOji  and  the'  scandal  of  these  mancBU- 
vres  of  his,  doth  gall  tny  very  soul.     He  is 
wise,  howevpr ;  so  let  us,  for  this  time,  take 
his  'advjjpe,  and  see  what  will  follow,  keep- 
ing ourselves  ever  on  our  guar4  against  sur- 
prise."    So  they  fell  back  into  the  heart  of 
Fernianagh.  •   The  coAsequence  was,  that  the 
English  iSpeedily  took  possession  of  Ehnis- 
killen,^^  Maguire's   chief  stronghold,  which 
from  having  the  entire  command  of  Lough 
Erne,  was  indeed  one  of  the  mosi  important 
places  in  Ulster.     This .  was  a  grievous  blow 
to  O'Donnell,  who  could  iir  brook  seeing 
the  capital  of  Maguire's  country  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy ;  and  as  he  had  been  recently 
invested  with  the  chief  authority  in  Tyrcpn- 
iiell,^  (his  father  having  resigned    in   his 
^vor)  he  lost  no  time  in  calling  out  his  ctaii^ 
Whom  he  led  ajt,once  to  the  shores  of  Lough 
Erne,  and  blockaded  EnnisMllen  on  the  land 
side,  so  as  to  cut  off  all  cbmi&uxucation'  with 
the  English  posts,    l^et  the  combined  forces 
j^  I'ermanagh  md  Tyrconnell^   nume^Qua 


ts6 


BED  HAKD  OF  XTI^TER. 


:    ■  1 


and  efficient  jas  jthey  were,  made  but  slow 
progress  in  besieging  so  strong  a  fortress, 
and  the  summer  months  parsed  away  while 
they  'lay  before •  it.  The  two  chiefliains 
placed  their  main  hope  on  the  provisions  of 
the  garrjson  becoming  exausted ;  and  there 
was  every  probability  that  famine  would 
soon  do  %hat  they  had  not  military  science 
enough  to.  accomplish,  when  intelligence 
arrived  that  a  powerful  army  was  about  to 
march  from  Dublin  and  Connaught  for  the 
irelief  of  Enniskillen,  commanded^  too,  by* 
two  of  the  most  experienced  and^  able  gene- 
rals in  the  Anglo-Irish  army.  Consterna- 
tion a^  alarm  spread  throughout  the  Irish 
ranks  J  and  even  the  chieftains  ^became  fear- 
^luily  anxbus,  when  news  was  brought  to 
Hugh  O'DonneU,  that  soine  Scottish  auxilia^ 
ries,^for  whom  he  had  negotiated  had  reached 
the  Foyle,  whereupon  he  set  out  with  all 
^speed'forDerry  to  receive  and  conduct  l&ehi 
lo  th€^  camp,  where  their  presence  was  so 
^i^ueh  nee^ded. 


%M 


JB«it>  alas,  O-Ponnell  was  8C2|rcely  gone 
%hen  M%uire  leanied  thi^ 


% 


BED'  HA19D  OF  tTLBTEB. 


Ul 


rapidly  advancing  on  Eniaiskillen,  and  liis 
brtive  heart  Mink  within  him  as  he  contem- 
plated the  necessity  of  giving  up  the  siege. 
"VVTiat  chance  had  he  with  only  a  few  thousand  ^ 
half  disciplined  troops,:  |o  meet  and  resist  the 
aftack  of  two  numeroSas  aripies  of  tried  and 
well-trained  soldiers,  coming  on  him  from 
different  quarters,  and  led .  on  by  two  com^ 
manders  of  known  ability,    ^^other   day 
passed  away  in  this  fearful  qtate  of  suspense,. 
Maguire  looking  anxioXisly  northward  for  the 
^appearance  of  O'Donnell  and  the  Scots,  and  r 
unwilling  to  raise  the  siege  while  even  a 
chimce  remained.'    But  vain  his  expectations ; 
nor  flpear, '  nor  banner,  was  seen  on  the 
northern  hbrizon,  and,  with  a  heavy  sigh,  he 
was  turning  into  his  tent,  to  give  orders  for 
raising  the  seige,  when,  hark!  in^hat  martial 
,  music  burst  u|)pn  his  ear,  it  V3,  it  surely  is, 
the  ancient  ihairch  of  the  O'Neills,  indimoii 
jfirom  thjB  &r  norUi-east  came  a  gallant  show 
jrf  cavalry^  i^yed'in^,^^^^  Irisk  .costume* 
-*f;They  are,  t^ey  must  bei  from  Dungah- 
nbni**  cried  Magydre.  addfjessing  somig  of 


/I 

•  /■■■ 

v..  ( 


M.'  ^  ■ 


232 


RED  HAND  OP  UI*STB6» 


that  they  come  otherwise    than,  as    foes? 

Good  God!  if  it  be  so,  how  are  we  to  act, 

with  the  English  ai'my,  perhaps,  within  a 

few-miles  distance?"     And,  in  his  grievous 

uncertainty,  he  Walked  out  alone  lo  meet  the 

approaching   column,  determined  to   know' 

the  worst  at  once.      Great,  then,  was  his 

surprise,   and  greater   still    his    exultation,  > 

when  he  was  accosted,  in  cordial  accents^  by 

Cormac  O'Neill,  who,  guessing  at  the  tenor 

of  hisrtjioughts,  hastened  to  inform  hiih  that 

he  was  «ent  by  his  brother  witt  this  bodyspf 

cavulry,^  (consisting  6f  four  hund:^ed  of  the 

•loosen  men  of  Tyr-bwen,)'  to  the  assistance 

of  Ithe  besieging  army.     A   proud  and  a 

happy  inan  was  Cuconnacht  Mdguire  that 

day,  when  he   conducted  O'Neill  and  the 

other  officers  from  Tyrone  to  his  tent ;  imd  a 
Ifeafening  cheer  rent  the  air  when  the  sol- 

diers  of  O'Neill  mingled  with  the  Clan-con^ 
nal  and  the  men  oTlP^rm^a^hT^MlSthrenT 
iii'armsw.  -y  ■  ■■  ■■  .f-'-'-y''-,.         '■..:  ^:-\  .■■.., °■•■'"- 

Th«re  was,  however,  but  little  tidie  W^ 


gratulations   or  idle   compliments,   for    the 
^English  were  known  to  be  almost^  in  sight ; 


■.';*'.■ 


BXt>  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


23S 


,and  Mftguure,  -having  taken  counsel  of 
O'Neill,  tesolved  to  move  from  his  present 
position  and  advance  to  meet  them,  when  he 
might  choosy  his  ground,  and  still  keep 
between  them^and  Enniskillen.  The  Irish 
army,  therefore,  took  up  its  station  on  the 
banks  of  .the  river,  at  a  ford  not  for  from  the 
town,  and  had  scarcely  time  to  form  in  good 
order  .when  the  united  English  force  appeared 
on  the  opposite  side.  Steering  right  onward 
for  Enniskillen,  the  English  general]^  would 
hw  forced  a  passage,  but  this  they  found 
impracjticable,  owing  to  the  determined  and 
imflinciiing  stand  made  by  the  Irish.  During 
all  th^long  hours  of  the  summer '  day  was 
this  fierce  warfare  kept  up— the  English, 
with  desperate  .resolution,  charging  and 
ifecharging,    one    battallion    relieving    the 

'other;  while  the  Irish,  with  courage  that 
never  wavered,  maintained  tlieir  ground,  and 


to  the  charge,  and  instantly  the  Irish,  cross- 
•ing  the  .river^  fell  upon  them  with-  such 


i 


beat  back,  time  after  time,  the  adviancing 
columns  of  the  enemy.  At  length,  the 
troops  were  seen  Ji  Waver.in  coming  ' 


I.  ^ 


....jc,*-^-  ■■  •  • 


^»s^;«' 


%i 


RBD  HAND  OF  X7I<8TER. 


■  ■ ,.  i:  ■ 
■'■•]■ 
■  i  - 


overwhelming  fury  that  they  fled  in  every 
direction,  leaving  behind,  at  the  close  of  day, 
baggage,  ammunition  and  aU.  Amongst  the 
rest  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the 
plenteous  supplies  intended  for  the  lelief 
of  the  garrison ;  and,  from. the  prodi^ous 
quantity  .of  biscuits  found  in  the  spoils,  the 
scene  of  battle  was  called  henceforward  the 
Ford  of  Biscuits.    \,  ^  /: 

When  O'Donnell  arrived,  next  day,  with 
his  Scottish  allies,  and  found  how  matters  had 
gone,  his  gratitude  to  O'Neill  knew  no 
bounds,  seeing  that  but  for  his  timely  aid 
Enniskillen  would  have  been,  perhaps,  irre- 
trievably lost,  and  a  powerful  English  army, 
J^ushed  with  victory,  careering  over  the 
province.   \^i^..^''''-Lx-y--)  '  -W^--'^^       ■;>■;■■'.■';'■  •., 

**  I  knew  we  might  depend  on  his  wisdom,!' 
said  Hugh  to  Maguire  and  Cormac  O'Neill, 
*i  and  now  I  will  answer  for  his  truth ;  so, 
Oormac,  greet  the- earl  from  me,  and  say  that 
I  will  go  myself,  to  tell  him  so,  in  a  da^  or 
two  it  farthest" 

^ing  unavoidably  detained  for  some  d4ys, 
at  the  G^tle  of  Dpiieg^>  1>7  Uie  duty  fif/bos- 


\ 


mXD  SAND  OF  ULSTES. 


285 


•5> 


pitality  towards    the    Scottish    chiefs,    tjie, 
/oung  p'Donnell  was  surprised  by  the  arrival; 
1Sf^¥  "government    courier;  from   the  new 
Deputy,  Russell;  andi as  this  embassy  was 
attended  with  alhformality,  being  escorted  by  * 
at  least  a  score  of  horsemen,  there  was  i:ealBon 
to  belieVe  it  of  importance.     Hugh  Roe  was, 
at  the  moment,  engage^  in  exhibiting  some 
venerable  armorial  remams,  to  the  two  Scots, 
in   that   identical  room,  or  rather  h^l,^f 
his  ancient  castle,  whichi  even  in  our  day,  is 
,.  femous  for  its  magnifi^nt  proportions,  as  well 
as  the  rich  and  curious  ma:njel-piece  which 
adorns  its  lofty  fire^ace.  . 

V<  A  messenger  (worn  '*I)ublinl'*  said  he. 
*'  VKh/,  bring  him  in,  then,  in  God's  name, 

'     till  we  hear  what  he  hath  got  tp  say."  J^ 

V  instantly  the  ambassador  made  his  appear- 
ance, ^d  Wfia  found  to  ftb  a  subaltern  dra- 
goon officer.     On  being  introduced  alone,  this, 

l.pei^sonage  ventured  to   say,  in  a  hesitating 
^tone,  *' Might  not  those  who' came  with  me 

/^  be  also  admitted,  at  least  to  the  faall?*^" 

«Sir  Englishman  I"  said  O'DonneU,  inhis 
imperfect  j^lish,  and  he  Bpoke  .wUh  stem 


I 


/I 


SS6 


-T 


\     t 


BSD   HAND   OF   UISTSR. 


emphasis,  "  Sir  Englishman !  I  am  O'Don- 
nell ;  these  fears  are,  then,  an  insult.  Speak 
the  purpose  of  thy  visit — we  listen.**      ' 

*«  Noble  p'Dounell  I "  said  the  young 
officer,  awed  by  the  haughty  impetuosity  of 
the  chieftain's  manner,  "I  came,  first  of  all, 
to  inform  thee  that  the  late  Deputy  Fitzwil- 
liam  hath  been  recalled,  and  hath  been 
replaced  by  Sir  "William  Russell'- 

*'^nd>  holy  St.  Patrick!  what  is  all  this 
to  me?"  cried  O'Donnell,  angrily,  "whal 
have  I  to  do  with  one  English  Deputy  more 
than  another  ;  is  this  meant  as  a  mockery  \ 
if  so,  I  will  spoil  the  sport  ere  it  be  long !  '* 

"Nay,  most  noble  chief,"  put  in  the  Eng- 
lishman, more  and  more  disconcerted,  " 
have  been  sent  hither  by  the  lord  Deputy, 
the  queen's  special  request,  to  offer  th^e  a 
free  pardon  for  all  the  past,  on  conditioVthat 
thou  wilt  give  up  all  future  correspondence 
with  the  Earl  of  Tyrone,  who  is  considered 
n  most  dangerous  and  designing^^  man — '* 
He  was  going  on,  when  O^Donn^l  cut  him 


short,  by  turning  abruptly  to/ McLeod,  of 
Ara,  who  (rt»od  at  a  U^  distance.    "  Hear^ 


-,>/.■ 


^^' 


a: 


BSD  HAND  01^  tTtBTEK, 


.  y  ' 


tm 


eit  tjiou  that,  Dugald  McLeod  ? "  he  i;ried>  in 
a  toik)  of  strong  excitement,  '*  is  not  that  a 
moddst  proposal  ?"  The  Scot  only  answered 
by  a\  smile,  guessing  in  part  what  wa«  to 

ibiiowiN'  ■■;-■■  ■■"  {■   \::-^'-"^.,:"'-v^.k'.,'^ 

"Come  hither,  Feargus  McSweeney,",-s^d 
G'DoniMll,  opening  a  sid^oor,  *'  a^jd^^ingf  |t/y;^ 
^itj^thee  a  score  .Or  sp.of'^od  pduited 
spearmen.  Now,"  he  exclaimed,  tii|yiing^ 
at  length,  tp  the  wondering  messenger^ 
"now,  friend^,  as  thou  seemest  to  be  a  good, 
quiet  sort  of  man,  I  will  give  thee  a  friendly 
warning,  never  come  to  Bd^gal  with  such 
ji  message  again,  or,  by  the  oak  of  Kildare, 
it  shall  go  hard  with  theOi  For  this  time  I 
forgive  thee;  but,  markiny  wprds,— and  let. 
the  man  thou  callest  the  deputy  mark  them, 
toOj — ^I  will  crop  off  the  ears  of  the  first  who 
bringeth  hither  another  offer  of  pardon^ 
O'Donnell  neither  sues  for  their  pardon  nor 
their  friendship;  thie  offer  of  either  he  deema 
an  insult  Off^  and  iremember  what  t 
said." 


rye 


ii 


« 


•  •■  ■  ■ 

All  ready  I "  cried  Feargus,  at  the  door. 
Then  mount  your  horses  quickly,  and 

"hi/  *  i 


% 


! 


ssa 


BSD  HAI9B  OF  ULSTSK. 


ir^' 


leave  these  Sassenaclis  at  tlie  frontier;  tdke 
not  ^our  eyes  off  them  till  they  jxe  on  tiie 
.  soil  of  Gonnaught.  The  earth  nere  .  hath 
begun  to  loathe  such  burdens^  and  will 
none  of  them."  The  Englishman  slunk  out 
of  the  room,  glad  to  escape  on  any  terms. 

In  ttro  hours  after,  Hugh  Roe  was  on  his 
way  to  Dungannon,  accompanied  by  McLeod 
and  McDonald,  whom  he  wished  to  introduce 
to  P'Neill,  On  reaching  the  door,  the 
impetuous,  youth  threw  himself  off  his 
cha^g^,  and  was  in  an  instant  grasping 
the  earl's  hand  with  all  the  wannth  of  his 
character, 

**"What  dost  think  I  have  to  tell  thee, 
Hugh  ?  "  he  laughingly  said,  when  Tyrone 
had  kindly  welcomed  the  Scots.  "  Wilt  thoii 
believe  that  the  deputy,  (it;  seems  there  is  a 
new  one,)  hath  sent  to  offer  me  a  pardon? " 
"A  pwdon  1 "  cried  Tyrone,  in  real  amaze- 
ment—-"is  it  to  thee  they  haye  proposed  a 
pjurdon ?*'■■-■:■■■  /.■  "■.;/■:■■-:>■  ■'.^'  ■'■■■■ ...::.  -M 

.  :**' Ay,  marry  !'*  returned  O'Donnell,  with 
a  fierce  smile,  "they  would  seem^  to  forget 
how  great  wrongs  I  have  individually  suf- 


# 


JUtD  HAN1>  or  ULSTER. 


%t» 


iered  at  their  hands,  and  impudently  set  me 
down  as  a  guilty  man.  By  r the  hcdy  wandl 
it  is  to(^uch ;  but,  forsooth,  they  even  set  a 
price  ofi^  their  forgive;^8S ;  I  was  to  have 
forsworn  all  future  communication  with  a 
certain  chieftain,  who  hath,  it  se^ems,  griev- 

^ously  disappointed'thetn  in  their  speculations, 
and  is,  therefore,  as  they  say,  a  dangerous 

■person.":;;.;   V  .^  ■..•.:•:;  ':-, /■;•■.•■  ^  ■■^'^ 

"  And  thou  needst  not  tell  me  who  that 
is,  friend  Hugh,"  replied  O'Neill,  "for  it  is 
but  this  morning  I  have  received  a  summons 
from  this  new  Deputy,  Eussell,  to  repair  to 
Dublin,  to  answer,  /it  would  seem,  some 
recent  charges.  X  have  also  had  a  fiiendly 
warning  from  my  old  companion-in-anns, 
Ormond,  intimating  that  jRussell  hath  come 
over  with  positi^  instructions  to  proceed 
against  *  that  traitor,  O^NeilL'  To-morrow 
I  purpose,  ^h  the  div^le  permiission,  to  set 
out  for  Dublin.'*     ^       '^      „V 

i  "  Nay,  surely,  O'Neill,"  s^  O'Doniiell, 
earnestly,  *' thou  will  not  thrust  thyself  into 
their  power,  now  that  their  suspicions  are 


■  % 


too  deeply  fixed  to  be  "Removed. 


r 


£40 


RBD  RAND  OF  ULSTER* 


Hugh,  thou  canst  not  hare  forgotten  the 
recorded  fate  of  the  Southern  Earl  who  was 
80  imprudent  as  to  go  to  London  to.  justify 
himself ;  and  then  think  of  poor  Brian 
0-Rourke,  who  hath/ in  our  own  day^been 
executed  in  that  accursed  city.  N&y, 
there,  I  implore  thee ;  cast  all  fear  of  tl 
the  winds  ;  unfurl  th^  banner  to  the  breezes 
of  the  north,  and  let  us  commit  our  cause  to 
the  last  great  ordeal/'  ^    *  . 

"And  that  we  must  speedily  do,  my  gal- 
lant friend,"  returned  O'Neill,  with  grave 
solemnity^*' seest  thou  not  that  they  have 
now  a  chain  of  forts  right  across  the  island, 
over-looking  the  north— at  least  their  chain 
would  have  been  completed  had  we  suffered 
theni  to  retain  Enniskillen.  And,  that  is  true, 
while  I  think  of  it,  let  me  ask— hath 
Magtiire  taken  possession  of  the  fortress  ?  " 

"Even  so,  iie  hath.  Thanks  to  thy  iiirell- 
timed  ^^uccor,  Enniskillen -~  the  key  of 
I^ugh  Erae— ^s  again  oftr  own.*!^    ^     -  1 

"  It  is  'well ;  now  let  me  proceed,  if  I 
go,  now,  to  Dublin  (for  I  mean  not  to  ven- 
ture  £uiher)  it  is  to  gain  even  a  few  days. 


fe  ■ 


t 


BK)  HAND  OF  VLSTEB. 


Ul 


fori  have  had^ Still  9iiotIier  dispatch  firoqi 
Madrid^  announcii^g  that  a  portion  of  the 
protoised  reinforcements  'will  be  here  in  a 
week  w  Iw^o    at  ^  f^^  visit  will 

probably  end  in  a  total  break  with  the  gor-r 
emment,  so  |;hat  preparations  must  speed  on 
here  in  the  north  with  lightning  rapidity," 
^yben  turning  to  the  Scottish  chiefs,  he  said, 
in  a  cheerful  tone,  and  with  that  insinuating 
gnuce  whioh  none  could  so  well  command— 
^*  Long  hath  this  warfare  been  carried  on 
between  the  Celts  and  Saxons,  and  the  Gael 
of  the  Islands  and  Highlands  are  our  bom 
allies  in  the  contest,  x  My  young  friend, 
0*Donnell,  hsith  been  fortunate  in  so  early 
enlisting  on  our  side  auxiliaries  so  valuable, 
and  I  well  hope  that  the  God  who  overrul- 
eth  the  battle  as  well  as  the  peaceful  hour, 
will  give  victfq>ry  to  our  arms ;  for,  assuredly, 
we  fight  for  our  holy  faith,  still  more  than 
for  our  o^ressed  country.*'  ^     ^^ 

-^  On  the  following  morning,,  after  having 
heard  mass  in  the  castle-clapel,  the  chie^ 
set  out  in  opposit^e  directions,  i  the  one  on 


his  perilous  visit  to  Dublin,  while  the  other^ 


^h 


-^O- 


'■%. 


•;>■ 


im 


■yam  i^j^d  w  V^^"^ 


•'with' his  friendB^  returned  to  Donegal.    la 
taking  this^  step,  O'Neill  acted  in  ^Jrect 
opposition  to  the  mshes  of  all  who  love^ 
faittL  most,  J!b:8A)elb  and  Fatl^ 
included,  but,  having  set  it  down  in  bis  owti 
imii^d  as  tf6tuiEJly  necessaiy,  he  would  not  be 
dissuaded  £rom  the . journey.     Jiislittendants, 
though  not  niinaerouis,  were  richly. equipped, 
Ml  Vore,  like  himself,  the  liationail  dress.  - 
For  himself,  though  scrupulously  attired, 
iSifter  the  £uihion  cf  an  Irish  chief,  h^  took, 
jgood  care  to  wear,  beneath  his.  clpse-'fitting 
jacket  and  short  cloak,  a  light,  bu^  ^hn  ooat  . 
•of  hjighly-tertipered  steel,  and  on  Ms  head 
wtMia  small  steel  morion,  fi^om  which  floats 
•a  plume  of  white  feathers  tinted  with  jpeen,  • 
On  arrinng  in  Ddblin,  Ee  learned  tMt  the 
leouncil  Was  then  sitting,  and  to  the  council- 
•ohamber  h^  at  once  repaired,  being^  desirous 
to  l6dTe  Dublin  as^soon  as  might  be.     The 
yraj  was  not  imknown  to  him ';  for,  in  other 
days,  when  Ferrot  held  the  reins  of  govern-i^ 
ment,  he  had^often  taken  his  place  at  the 
council-board,  an  honored  member  as  any  >^ 
^1^  -sat  there.    So,  miMly  paiidiig  lit  |he 


.r 


...^:'$L- 


BID  HASH)  OF  ilLSTBR. 


V  ' 


HS 


4oor»  to  hate  Ms  nune  annbtinced,  he  walked 
•lone  into  the  room,  tioB. stopped  till  he  Kad 
t  reached  the  l^ttom  of  t^long  table^-at  one, 
0iid  ofwMck  the:4eput^  wjw  seated,  on  an 
el6vj^^  ilplding  his  steel  c^'in  his 

hand,  O'N^  >dw^.^r8t  Ito  the  deputy,  and 
thtsa  to  thie  council  boUeeti^ely.  Sevend,  of 
the  'most  iinfluentiid  ih^nibers  returned  his 
•4ute,%hile  Ormond,  a&4  a  few  others,  came-, 
^forti^d  tod  shoofc  hii^  -The 

^  ae|M4y  l(Mkii^d  rdn  his  sharp  fea- 

1|3C|>re88iye  qnly  of  imqualified  aurpnoe 
finy-6f^^  nohles^pfeseiit  ^^ 
•    «lch  |iy^  m  hii  heai^t 

'  .lie' qobwdered^  O'Neill    W 
;  ;tp  order  mud:  ^taet  were  restowedj^und  the 
memhers  again  in  their  seats,  he  addres^ 
the  earl,  ,without,,4ibweyer,  requestinfi:  him 

#^?^  lorcl  xtf  Tyroiie,  thpa  hast  done  well 
to  answer  the  iUn^mons,  as  otherwise  we 
should  haye  been  <c6mpelled  to  insist  on 
haring^thee  appear,"!*    •;  ]      ,  • " ,      '  -  > 

^^^Aiid  now,  that  I  am  here,"  said  j-yrohe^ 
^nfy»  ,^U  wou^know  from,  your  Ibrddiip  why 


/ 


*■ 


I 


Ui 


n^ 


JUED  PSAND  OF  tJLBTXE. 


tmd  wberefQre  my  presence  was  so  peremp* 
torily  .  demanded.      Certain   vag^e   charges 
liave  been  broug^  ai^nst  jmt0j  mID^^^  toW* 
I  bave  come  tbiis  iar  to  hear  them  from  |he 
fbuntain-head-1",;  A  ■ -/.v";;-.  .;;%.■■■■■■■   ■•'A;, .■;;■; 
*    "Nay/*  said  the    deputy,  involiintarily 
impressed  by  the  grave  dignity  of  O'Neill's  - 
bearing,  atid  th^'  nobleness   of  his  /aspecf. 
*?  Nay,  my  lord !  these  charges  lure  more  seri- 
ous than  thou  wouldst  see?pito  think."    Then, 
from  a  paper,  whi9h  he^^d  taken  from  a 
portfolio  before  him,  he  went  oii  teading— 
« Thou,  Hugh  Q'l%ill,  Eari  of  Tyrone, 
Btandest  charged  before  thld  honorable  body, 
f^d  thfe;.<iuefin's  Mghness,  with  having,  in  the 
first  place,  held  treasonable  communication 
with  certain  native  chiefs,  the  known' enemies 
of  law  and  order  ;   secondly,  that  thoii  hast 
countenanced,  and  given  refuge  ^to  pjppish 
priests,  and  neglected  every  means  of  dii^our- 
.  aging  that  idolatrous  worshij^  within  thy 
domains ;    lastly,  thou  art  accused  %  the 
marshal.  Sir  Henry  Bagnal,  of  having  forcibly 
and  fraudulentlytarried  off  liis  sister,  the  lady 
Arabel}§  Bagmd.    These  heavy  misdemean- 


.  1 


RED  HAND  OF  miSTER. 


tm 


:''-^%-:f 


'ors  are  all  bad  to  t%  charge;  it  is  for-  diee 
te  disprove  them."  %  - 
T^  Not  a  muscle  of  Tjrrone's  face  was  moved, 

3Q%  a  trace  of  surprise  was  visible  on .  his 
9unteiiance,'as  he  replied^  w^  the  utmost 
coolness,  kiseping  up,  however^  a  slight  show 
of  deference:  .V  ' 

■  1  ^*  So  please  vou,  inost  worshipful  sir!  I 
:w|ll  answer  the  last  first,  and  that  I  can  do 
iniEe^  words\  Summon  hither,  if  thou  wilt, 
the. Countess  of  Tyrone,^  and  she  will  teU 
thee  whether  fraud  or  force  ^as  employed  in 
my  wooing  of  tier.  That  charge  is  so  idle,/ 
that  methinks 'there  are  few  of  your  honora^ 
ble.  councillors  who:  cai^not  prove  it  false, 
even  from  pubUc  repdrt.  It'^  is,  therefore^ 
-  unworthy  of  being  ^nstrered  by  me.  To  the 
second  county  I  reply,  that  I  am  myself,  (as 
all  the  world  doth  knf^>)>^'  ***^^ch  Catho- 
liev  and.  if.  the  ^queeji^oth  expect  me  to  join 
in  ihe  hue  and  cry  f^junst  the  prjests  of  my 
own  chui^ch,  the  ministers  of  tny  own  wor* 
%tp«  I  can  only  say,  thiat  her  majesty  mupt 
be  grievously  deceived  by  interestied  persons. 
The  first  charge  doth  appear  to  me  the  most 


.  <-■ 


.^^ll^. 


B^ill  klLNBl  OT  lILBTlKit 


ne^Bot  all,  and  with  ycmr  lordihip's  good 
leave,  I  Will  take  some  hpura  to  conwder  my 
antwel^  as  it  bchoveth  me  to  pat  it  in  a  satis- 


factory form,  so  as  to  carry  conyiction  to  the 
mind    of    the    gracious^  queen,  Elizabeth. 
Should  my  presence  be  again  required,  ye  alii 
tnow  where  I  live."     And,  bowing  around 
to  the  councillors,  he  made  a  formal  salutejto 
the  deputy,'and  left  the  room,  being  accom- 
panied to  the  door  bj^V^rmond.    Buseell 
wjould  fidn  have  ordered  him  ^d^r  an  imtoef 
dute  arrest,  but  this  the  majority  of  the^  counr^ 
oil  opposed  ;axMl  the  fact  was,  that  Ih^ 
finally  refused  to   have  the  earl  arraigned, « 
which ^refusal  shows,  beyond  all  doubt,  the 
mingled  fear  and.  love  with  which  Ol^eiU 
was  even  then  regarded^ 


CHAPTBE  vin. 


-Y: 


For  on^  toy  of  fr«o<fom,  01  who  wbold  not  die? 
•    Hfk,  hMk !  *tto  the*  trompet  —  the  call  of  the  hiVM, 


The  deatili-eonK  of  tgrruits,  and  dbfs  ot.  the  iImoI 

Oar  eonntry  lies  bleeding,  0  fly  to  her  aid, 

On*  ana  ttiat  defends  i*  nortii  hoiti  ttwt  farrad*!**' 


taSD'  BAND  OF  VU'IUUL 


-^Jufd!'. 


f  AMjrmo  on  Ormond's  advice,  backed  ^ 
hit  own  judgment,  O'Neia  lost  no  time  m 

-j^ujtting  Ihil^lin ;  and  weU  h»  did  so,  forit 

jwaionjlr*  sbori  time  after  V'  h^  V^     i 
)^  gatei^that  orders  reached,  the  wardens  to    ;t 
jrtoir  Hml^^Finding  that  he  had  escaped,  f^/^ 
depuiby,  in  his  liate  tepentance,  tent  similar 
instruc^tions  to  the'various  posts  along  the; 
i  chieftain's  road  homeward;  but  each  of  them 
in  turn  came  too  late;  be,  with  his  troop, 
having,  iif  all  caajes,  ridden  through  the  towns  v 
before  Bussell's  messenger  arrived.     The    ^ 
earl  had  almost  reached  Pungannon  when 
-  ke  was  informed  of  this  narrow  ei^pe ;  and' 
it  gave  hinujfainly  to  understand  that  be  _: 
had  nothing  for  it  but  to  raise  the  stanHj^4 
^  of  revolt,  and  test  the  strength  oi  tbe  con^ 

fe^ration  he  had  been,  jso  long  ^rming.   f 
V    His  first  step  on  reaching  home  was,  Iber^^" 

vfore,  to  write  to  each  of  the  chiei»ins  wha 
^'  J^  ilM^        league,  and  in  that;  circulajf 

'  he   tbW  ^^ 
lowwledge  of  these  E^ 

-and  sinc0 


/ 


'■f^^m 


.    .«.■     /  ,  ■        -■■■.•  ■    ,  •    ^  ■  .         ■     ■  ■"■■;;■ 

TBMD  HAND  OF  incma* 

their  own,  we  ftre  at  length  called  upon  to 
'  fight  for  our  hearths  and  homes.  In  our 
-  free  valleys,  and  op  our  quiet  hill-sides. w 
have  hitherto  heen  enabled  to  protect  the. 
faith  of  our  fathers!— to  its  ministers  We 
have  afforded  an  asylum— ^when  everjrwhere 
eliM  th0y  Were  proscribed  and  hunted  down 
like  beasts.  Shall  we  let  ourselves  be  strip- 
ped of  this  glorious  privilege?  Shall  we, 
too,  lie  down  and  let  the  i^dvancing  hoof  f of/ 
the  Saxon  war-horse  traniplfa  on  our  pride 
men?  Chieftains  of  Ulster!  froni  ye  da  I 
look  for  an  answer !  let  us  forward,  in  the 
name  of  -  God,  \  our  holy  church,  and  our 
blee^ng  country !  Ere  this  reaches  thee,  I 
shall  have  taken  the  first  step  in  advances 
be  ye,  therefore,  prepared  /for  what  %  to. 

Great  was  the  joy  with  which  the  chiefs 

*.■■■■'■■■/  ' 

received  this  summons — iii  their  minds,  too 
long  delayed.  In  &ct,  ^anY;of  them  had 
long  since  began  to  doi^ibt  the  sincerity  of 
Tyrone ;  and'no  greatyvronder,  considering, 
that  within  the  last  fe;^  months  he  had  taken 
aides  with  the  hated  English^  agaipat  an  Lash 


Tfc 


BSD  HAND  OF  T7L8TBB. 


«49 


« 


diiefbin,  straggling  to  maintain  hit  inde- 
pendence, and  recover  his  capital  from  the 
ip  of  the  foe.  .But  they  had  been  again 
conciliated  by  G'Neiirs  well-timed  succor, 
extended  to  Maguire ;  apd  now  all  wer^ 
ready,  ay,  eager  io  second  his  views.  Even 
O'Hanlon,  who  had  long  been  leagued  with 
Bagnal,  now  threw  off  the  shameful  connec- 
tion, and  sent  notice  to  the'  earl  that  he  was 
willing  to  aid  him  ia  the  approaching 
..Itruggle.  ■■'  ■■..•■■■^'-    ■^  -■■•■■■•'■ 

It  was  a  day  of  public  rejoicing  for  miles 
around  Dungannon,  when  the  long  furled 
banner  of  the  O'Neills  was  flung  to  the 
breeze,  and  waved  in  haughty  defiance  from  ' 
the  highest  point  of  the  castle.     John  Mit-      \ 
chel,  in  his  spirited  Life  of  Hugh  O'Neill,  ^^   " 
has  given  a  striking  picture  (and  in  few 
words)  of  that  most  dedsive  moment.     "At 
length,"  says  he,  "  the  time  had  come,  and 
Dungannon,  with  stem  joy,  beheld  unfurled 
the  royal  standard  of  O'Neill,  ^splaying,  as 
it  floated  proudly  on  the  breeze,  that  terrible 
BKD  RIGHT  HAND  upou  its  snow-white  folds ; 
warogdefcrnce  tp  lJ>§^ Saxon  queenj,^^  agi 


MD  BAND  OF  U 


mg,  like  a  n«ir  Aurora,  upon  the  awakened 
^uldren.  of  Hi|r^pon.**  >       :>     • 

^~N^r  WMT  that  warlike  hanner  unfurled  iiir^ 
fain,  for  when  once  roused  to  action*  and 
oonTtnced  that  the  time  for  proorasdnation  • 
and  temporizing  had  pawed  away,  no  man 
wai  more  prompt,  more  rapid  in  his  move* 
mmitM  than  Hugh  O'NeilL  Before  the 
EngHah,  then,  were  aware  of  his  intentioliik 
he  appeared  hefore  that  fortress  of  thdin  . 
n^hich  had  so  long  commanded  the  Black- 
water,  and  with  a  force  which  defied  all 
opposition— droye  the  garrison  from  their 
hold  almost  without  resistance,  and  swept 
the  country  before  him  towards  the  south, 
clearing  it  of  all  the  scattered  posts  which 
die  English  had  either  by  stealth  or  openly 
establifihed  there.  T^e  ni^  great  point  was 
tofiree  McMahonV  country  of  that  eyesore 
which  had  beep  for  years  corroding  its  fair 
soil.  The  English  had  stUl  possession  of 
Monaghan  Castle,  which,  being  a  fortress  of 
g^eat  jBtrength,  gave  them  a  firm  hold  on  the 
surro/inding  district  Haying  been  joined, 
by timim'^^^^* of  Monagh^p? iin4 


V  lum  KAKD  or  uurrsB* 

Fcniintg^^  O'Neill   tat  ^o|rn  before   thi- 
gloomy  ttroiighold,  determined  to  take  it,  at 

^^"^hateter  cost  it  might  require.  Jpfererthtf- 
lest,  from  the  exceeding  streJ^t^  ^^i}^ 
place,  and  the  desperate  re|olutioii  o#the 
garrison,  the  task  proved  tedious  in  the 
extreme,  and  ere  yet  there  was  much  appear- 
ance of  success,  O'Neill  was  summoned  to 
;PundaIk  to  meet  certaan  commissioners, 
*  diarged  with  negotiations  for  him  and  the 

"^^-ilhfr^  chiefs — ^his  allies.  Kussell  had,  it 
appeared,  been  ^^ken  by  surprise,  notwitlv? 
standing  that  ^|||ill,  after  the  taking  of 
Portmore,  had  written  a  satirical  letter, 
remin4ing  hiii  that  he  had  promised  tolaen^ 

i  hit  answef"  to  the  charge  of  holding  jecret 
intercourse  with  the   northern  chiefs,  and 

^^  (le^ng  to  know  whether  this  first  s^ep  after 
his  return  to  the  north,  was  a  satisfactory 
reply.     So  the  deputy,  bitterly  reproaching 

i/l  Mmself  for  letting  the  *'  araih-traitor "  ^lip 

.    through  hig  fingers,  and  not  being  prepai^ed 

to  put  down  at  once  so  formidable  a  rebel- 

UaB,  would  hm  have  recourse  to  diplomacy ; 


*i-. 


■\:-- 


:^ 


.•¥-■ 


^% 


BXP  HAND  pF  VLSTBB.' 


But  0!Neill  had  no  ihind  just  then  for  any- 
nipre^hdr-breadth  'scapes/', and,  therefore, 
positively  declared  against  setting  foot  in 
any  of  the  towns  of  the  Pale.  ^^  I  will  not 
be  siiiiimoned,"  said  he,  **  after  this  fashion 
• — ^I  owe  no  allegiance  to  -your  queen  or 
laws,  and  in  any  further  parleying  I  must 
be  treated^^  an  independent  chief.  For 
your  earlsHips — 4ceep  them  for  tlose  who 
yalue  them,  and  address  me  for  the  future  as 
the  O'Neill^-— the  only  title  I  will  acknowl- 
edge i^  too"  long  have  I  lent  myself  to  such 
idle  mummery— it  is  now  at  an  end."  ^ 

So  the  commissioners  were  fain  to  come 
forth  from  the  *'  walled  town,"  and  then  the 
principal  chiefs  of  the  north  met  them  on  the 
open  plsdn^  i|i;^  presence^  of  the^two  armies^ 
In  this  meedng,  O'Neill  spoke  rather  as  a 
con^uefbr  than  as  pne  asking  or  seeking 
pardon.  In  the  first  place,  he<«  stipulated 
that  no  further  attempts  shotcld  be  made  to 
introduce  the.  Beformation  into  Ulster; 
"  For,!' said  he,  with  a  scornfi^l  smile,  "we 
Uistermen  will  none  of  your  new-fangled 
religions^  so  keep  yom:  preachers  out  p£  our 


;'  *■•.. 


:.l- 


'B,W>  SAND  OF  ULSTER. 


%&Z 


^rritories,  aii^  ye^alue  their  lives ;  Papidtfi 
wMlre,  and  Papists  w«  j;^J^@     And,  as 
fe  your  daily  and'  hourly  incroachments  on 
our  domain|>  all  this  must  cease ;  no  more 
English  garrisons  are  to  be  kept  up  in  Ulster  j 
but,  for  ^e  present,  we  will  fcOxcept  Newry^, 
imd  Carrickfergu3.     But,  as  we  w:e  (^resolved 
to  keep  out  your  homerroade  religion,  so, 
with  God*s  help,  we  will  have  none  of  your 
laws;   neither  judged,  sheriffs,  nojrjbdliffs 
are  to   set  foot   within  t^e  ^iinits   of  the 
province,  save  and  except  the  g^rispns  afore- 
said, where  ye  may  *  jiang,  draw^  and^uarter  * 
each  other,  an'  ye  are  so  minded.     Having 
the  fate  <)f  the  McMahon  before  bur  eyes,  we 
have  a  wholesome  hatred  of  judge  and  jury, 
such  a»  ye  make  them.     Mpreover,  J  have 
further   to   dem&nd  that  the  llarstokV  Sir 
Henry  !pagnal,be  not  suffered  to  intrude 
himself  on  the  domains  of  any  one  chief  of 
this  provi*ice,  seeing  that  hie  doth  impudently 
lay  claim  to  a  large  portion  of  the  district  of 
Uriel."    Furthermore,  let  said  Marshal  Bag- 
Bal  be  obliged  to  pay  me  a  thousand  pounds 


\-< 


W 


■   {'■ 

■r 


-m- 


BSD  nAHr>  or  UL8TBIU 


and  pilawfully  retained  by  him.  I  have 
dbne^  and  on  oio  other  terms  than  these  will 
1  consent  to,  make  peace.  My  fiiend, 
^'Donnell,  will  now  make  his  proposals.** 

O'Donnell  then  stepped  forward,  and, 
with  contemptuous  bi^evity,  put  forth  pre- 
cisely the  samO'Conditions  regarding  tieligioii 
and  the  evacuation  of  Ulster  by  the  English, 
(he  scarcelr^lerated  0*Neiirs  reservation 
in  £akvor  of  !lipri:y  and  Carrickfergus,)  also, 
.that  no  further  countenance  of  aid  should  be 
afforded  by  the  English  to  a  usurper,  who, 
under  the  style  and  title  of  '<  the  Queen's 
O'Donnell,*'  b^  latterly  given  him  consider- 
able aifira^nce.  "I  will  make  short  work 
of  him,  if  I  catch  him,"  added  he,  fiercely^ 
^'  and  his  Saxon  abettors  shall  fare  no  better, 
I  warn -.ye.**.'' :  ■ '; :  :  ■ :  y  ■; . '. ' 

Though  the  commissioners  affected  to  con- 
sider some  of  these  conditions  as  ^' not 
unreasonable,**  yet  they  proposed  such  others 
in  return  that  the  chiefs  put  a  Sudden  stop 
to  the  negotiations  and  Returned  to  the  camp. 
O'Donnell  set  out  with  kis  troops  for  Gon- 
4iaught,  where  he  swept  the  land  from  sea 


.\ 


^^k'• 


. ;.  \;  .:  ■ 


BED  HAUD  OF  TJL8TKR.  866 

,tt\8eti,  driTing  the  English  to  take  refuge 
^  within  tneir  strongholds.  O'Neill  returned 
to  Monaghon^j^d  was  grieved  to  find  that, 
short  as  hif  ii|ii6nce  had  heen>  it  had  given 
an  advantage  to  the  en^my,  for  Bagnal  had 
suddenly  appeared  before  the  castle,  with  a 
large  force,  and,  having  relieved  the  garrison, 
succeeded  in  repulsing  the  besiegers.  On 
reaching  home,  he  received  the  information 
that  himself,  with  the  other  leading  chiefs, 
were  being  formally  tried  in  DuWui,  a  jury 
having  been  empanelled  for  that  purpose. 
«  And  thank  God,  Arabella,"  he  said^j^^j^^  a 
cheerful  smile,  in  answer  to  his  wife's  0^pss- 
sion  of  anxiety^  ''and  thank  God  it  is  not 
here  they  have  their  jury;  so  long  as  ^eir 
courts  and  trials  are  carried  .  on  in  Di||)lin 
they  may  try  us  an'  welcome,  for  all  we  care." 
Soon  after,  it  was  fom£»lly  announced  that  the 
gilbat  chiefikains  of  the  north,  that  is  to 
^  li^  "O'Neill,  O'Donnell,  Maguire,  and 
McMahon,  together  with  O'Rourke,  of 
Bieffni  O'Rourke,"  (now  liCitrim,)  had  all 
been  solemnly  convicted  as  traitors.     But 


# 


£S6 


u> 


^4 


h1n]>  07  UliflBB. 


#.»• 


4'- 


'#^-' 


how 


nation ;  they  neither  acknowledged  jthe 
English  law,  nor  feared  its  power,,  and  th^ 
whole  waft  Idoke^'onM  their^ 

people  as  r^Jood  f 

But  the  brunt  of^Jfc:-^5truggle  il^ 
coming  on^  and  it  b3iOYed  the  earl  to  prepare 
^for  its  approach.  '  The  English  army,  com- 
manded by  Russell    himself,  and  GenersA 
Norri8>  (one  of  the  ablest   comtoanders  of 
the  day,  on  the  side  of  England,)  was  known  i 
to.  be  on  its  march  northw^ds  ;  and,  notwith  >^ 
standing  a  brave  stand  niade  by  a  body  of  - 
Iiish  troops,  at  the  Moyry  pass,  the  English 
generals  succeeded  in  reaching  Armagh.  \  ^s 
O^Neill  had,  by  no  means,  a  sufii<4ent  force  to    n 
meet  this  formidable  army  in  an  open  fi^M, 
so  he  adopted  the  plan  of  destroying  all  ihe 
surrounding  villages  within  several  miles  of 
Dungannpn,  nay,  even  his  own  dwe}ling  he  - 
gave  up  to  the  flames,^l&e  the  people  of 
Moscow,  at  a  later  period^)  lest  it  might 
afiford.  a  shelter  to  the  English.     Ijla  wife  and 
family  he  sent  off  to  Dungiven  Castle>  as  a 
place  of  safety^  and  then  retired  with  hia 


-■  .:^.'^  •'■•v -^-n  "v  :- 


:>>->■ 


IT 


^a 


■K. 


^- 


1  1^^^ 


draw  the  ettemy  into  the  bogs  and  morasses^ 
witli  which  the  country  was  then  so  thickly 
studded.     Thence  he  harassed  theih.in^very 
directioiymaintaining  a  kind  of  guerilla  War-  V 
iare,  "^hur^ting    out   on    them    when  least 
expected^  and  jnaking  use  of  every  manoeu- 
"  vre  to  draw  them  after  him  into  the  woody    * 
^co^nt^     But  >Norris  was  too  wily  to  feU 
into  the  snare ;  and  the  entire  command  soon 
devolved  on  him,  as  Russell  found  it  neces-: 
sary  ix>    re^m    to  Dublin,    where    affairs  ^ 
r^uired  his  presence.     He  had,  however,  ao 
arranged/before  his  departure^  that  a  strong 
garrison/was  left  in  ii^bgh,  which  city  he       !: 
^Itly/considered  Jas   o^great   importance,      V        |j 
Left/pliis  own  responsibilityvNorris  turned" '  -  |1 

his^yqgl^wards  Monaghan,  whicjfi  had  becii 
rp^taken,  some    tiSfc  Jbefbre,   bisgifi'NeiU's      "        ■ 
brother,  and  was  now  in  the  hands  TBrits  la\i^  /* 
fill  chiefi  MacMahon.  '  As  that  st^ong^^*  v 

tie  formed  the  next  link  in  the  chain  ^^!^- 
tares^s  through  the  hearf  of  Ulster^  (4jinagb -^  - 
once  secured,}*so  Norrirf^aa  determined  to      4 
make  a  vigorous  effort  for  its  possession.      — : 
Gathering  together,  then,  all  his  available 


:v;-v 


1V,VJ 


i; 


;6rce,"lle 

;bii  the  wayj. 
'  iniglit  iSiii 
^-^gilance.  ]» 

,  blithe  pr 


0m 


Inarch  tdwardsv^ 
-'^ing  Qf  O'Neill 
%a8  In  s^ong  hopes  that  W 
in  eluding  i^that  chieftain's 
and  oipi  he  -marched,  then,  • 
bweir  of  his  army,  all  flushed 
icV  of  an  easy  ico^quest,  and 
had  rea(iih^  ^^h:five  miles  of  the  town  of 
Jkfonagan,-  i^li^fc  on  the  opposite  side '  of  a 
narrow 'StitaiJ<^thei;e  running  northward, 
through  a  sen^s  of  spaall  hills,  he  beheld, 
tirith  no  'agreeable  sur*pnse,  the  Irish  army, 
draym  Mp  iii  gti^d  ordei^  xommanded^^  t^^  "^ 
Earl'of^yr<^f^  person.  'IJie  stream,  as  1 
.  hkve  said,  isf  t^ere  very*^foW,  proceeding 
solely  j&rbm  it  spring  up  an^ugst  Uie  hillsj^^ 
'  wlu(^,  sending^  its  watears  across  the ' 
gi^^;  its  naigpto  thg  flace,  ;cjjj[ed^ 

(tho  Ja^n  of  &^j|p&ig,) 
into  XJlontibret,  by 'whiidr 
^  now  known,  ^iffhe  g^tt^ 
ini  the  hills  on*elfner  sife 


Cluain-TU 
since  cd 
latter  m 
slopes  g( 
out  somewJ 
iffhichwas 


)re  abrupftyon  tl^e-leBt  baj^ 
^<>sett  l)y  y'Neill,  witl 
usual'  gooct  judgment    As  the  Irish 


-"■t-  ■    ■>¥- 


llED  HAND  OP  ULSTBR.  ?5% 

■  •■■,■■■'::  .  .  ,■ '      ■  •..  •'.    :.■■■  ■;.  ".■."':..  •         ■■  '\. .:,  '■},.  ■''  *'"V- 

planted  right  in  tis  path,  sa  Norris,  on 
jcoming  up,  at  once  decided\  on  forcing  hia 
wajTj   especially   as   he  feU  himself  strong^ 


enough  to  make  the  attempt,  with  an  almost 

,  certdinty  of  success.     But  this  was  easier  said 

than  done,  for,  however  resolved  was  the 

English  general  to  gain  Monaghan,  O'Neill 

was  Just  as  determined  that  he  should  not, 

"Unless,"   said  he,  when    addressing  •his 

army,  "  unless  he  walks  over  our  dead  bodies, 

Monagh-an   must  not,  ftUl  again*  into  the& 

hands!" 

t  This  was  greeted  by  a  wild  cheer  from 

V  every  rank  of  the  army,  the  very  horses  of  ^ 

^  the  cavalry  prancing  and  neighing,  as  thou^Ji 

sharing   in   the  impatience  of  their  riders. 

,.then,,^me  the  English  infantry,  and  in 

,ffifV®fyl®  .^^-^^y  came  across  the  narrow 

Poole,  ^n^^'sougjit    to    l^reak    their    way 

%ou^ut   tl^  Jb^ 'rariksl    but   firm. as 

rtocfis  fitood  tljp  ^en  of  Ulster/^nd  bravely 

did,j4iey  re^.charge  klter^charg^.     Yet  the 

English^ught/ with  all   but   superhuman 

courage^ntlaot^ogLlylbeirj^nergflj^-^at  his^ 

brot^^r,  ..Sir^f|bff&    Norris,    was    badly 


% 


\ 


-^  .» 


,'..' 


£60 


EBP   HAND  OF  ULSTEB. 


wounded  in  these  useless  attempts  to. break  ., 
the  lines  of  the  Irftl^  infantry.     The  cavalry 
:j)njboth  aides .  had  ihitherto  stood  inactiye, 
but  now,  wien  Norris's  infantry  were  fairly 
exhausted  with  their  vain  efforts,  his  cavalry 
dashed"  out  in  aV  body,  and  made  a  furious 
rush    on    the    mounted    gallow-glassef  of 
O'Neill,  who,  under  his  own  command,  had 
be#n  awaiting  the  decisive  nfovement.     The 
leader  of  the  Epglish  horse 'was  anfAnglo'! 
Saxon ^f  the  Pale,.  nainedSeagraye',  who,  as. 
though  resolved  on  ddciding  the/matter  by 
single  combat,  at  once  singled  otit  the  noble  ; 
form  of  the  Irish  commander, ,  and  spurjifed 
tight  against  him.     (^*Neill,  on  his  side,  per- 
ceivmg  his  objecfc,  met  him  half-way,  and  a 
desperate   conflictV  commenced,  while  hot 
armies,  as  is  gener^ll}^  the  case  onj^ch  occa- 
sions, suspended  hostilities  for   tT  moment, 
awaiting  in  breathl^s^uspense,  the  result 
the  contest.     If  ^er  English  M|^ed  every 
thing  from  this  rMcontre,  they  werp,  to  all  - 
appearance,   perfectly    justified ;    w^ile  tHW 
Irish,  on  the  other  hand,  might  well  have 
feared,   for  this  Seagrave  was,  a  mka    of 

C  •       M    ■■"■ 


./«'.•  ■  .0 


,  •    f 


l^ED  HAND   of  ULSTER. 


mi 


V 


alnaost  gigantic  proportions,  and-  noted 
throughout  the  anhy  for  his  ponderous 
7  strength.  O'Neill,  as  we  have  earlier  said, 
/  was  only  of  moderate  height, /ind  His  form, 
though  singularly  well  l>uilt,  and  of  rather 
square  coiiformation,  was  no  apparent  nifttch 
for  the  bulky  Saxon.  But  i%>earance8  are 
often  SecditfuT,  and  those  who  ia||hP'N'eill 
test,  fearfully  arixiou^^  they  w^^-on  his 
account,  had  still  but  little  fear  for  his  event- 
ual success,  for  they  knew  that  his  personal 
strength  far  exceeded  jirhat  might  Be 
expected  from  his  appearance,  while  his  syil 
was  scarcety  to  be  equalled,^  At  th6  first  - 
,  jbnset  the  lances  of  the  two'^PP^ions  were 
shivered  to  atoms  on  the  breastplate  of  the 
other,  and  l^oth  recoiled  for  a  moment.  But? 
the  Saxon  almost  instantly -returned  to'  the 
charge;  and,  relying  altogether  on  his  vast 
strength,  threw  himself  with  all  his  force  • 
ag^ain^  O'NeilL  The  latter  being  somewhat 
shakeA  by*  the  force  of  the  shock,  grasped 
his  pow;|](;fur  '^  adversary  inv  his  arriiSj  and  ' 
^odled  hih]^ii;|i  Ijiin  to  the  ground.     Then , 


■/H 


/^4t  was  ti 


i^lttiP^  either  siide\  M 


% 


'.,..,.     , ,  "    . .     :-\:'.  ,;•:■  .-.■   ":      ■■■'  ■■■  •  ., 

^f^^tff^^-  J«%..  >.■  •  ^''  ■  ■■.'■-■. 

MS  *     .      BED  HAND   O^  ULSTER. 

;■•■•-.:>     .'*'■■.     ,i,<;         .  '    ■■■  ^%' '  .  .1  . 

tlieir  breatK  xh  dread  suspense ;  over  and 
over  rolled  the  combatants;  now  one,  now 
^the  other,  being  uppermost;  but  suddenly  a 
groan  was  heard,  it  was  the  death-groan  of 
Seagrave ;  for,  in  a  moment*  Q'Neill  was  seen 
drawing  out  his  8h(^  sword,  wli^  he  had 
|>lunged  through  tb^  Englishm^^  groin| 
and  extricating  hirtiself,  with  difficinbr.  from 
•  the  huge,  weight  of  his  cumbrous  and^pnist, 
he  started  to  his  teeti%rhereupon  a  cry^^ 
jingled'  rage  and  dismay  burst  from  tlf 
Etlglish  ranks,  answered  6^  the  instant  by  a 
loudy  fierce  yell  of  exultation  from  the  opp6- 
8itii|Bidd.   ^pakin^  advaiit^ge  of  the  grievous 


•1P« 


disaa|(ihtnvBnt,«<tfi(l  lon^eqaent  wavering  of 
Ll^nEnglish,.  thp  .earl    jumped  uppn   his 


.     ^lorfe,  ;rode  a^step  or  ti^p  back,  and  wared 

^his^and  as  a  signal.     The  effect  was  like^ 

.magic.     ^5 The    still    thunder-cloud,"    says 

:  Mitchelj  'fijurstintoa  temp^^     those  e^j^ues- 

trian  statues  became  as  winged  demons  I  and 

with  their  battle-cry  of  JLAaw  i^terg  ahoo 

(The  Red  Han§Vf>r  ever!)  and  their  lon^ 

lances  poised,  iii  eastern  fashion,  above  their 

^Jbeads,  down  swept  the  chivalry  of  Tyrniwen 


'■-i-- 


\ 


%. 


•  t  -I 


BBD  HAND  OF  VISTER. 


£68 


.apon  the  astonished  ranks  of  the  Saxon. 
Th4|))anner  of  St.  George  wavered  and  went 
down  before  that  furious  charge.  The  Eng* 
lish  turned  their  bridle  reins,  and  ^ed  head- 
long over  the  stream,  leaving  the  field  cov- 
ifred  with  their  dead ;  and,  worse  than  all^.. 
leiaving  with  the  Irish  that  proud  red  cross 
banner,  the  first  of  its  disgraces  in  those 
Uliiter  wars/' 

So  ended  the  famous  battle  of  Clontibret, 
famous  as  being  the  first  pitched  battle  which 
O'Neill  had  dared  to  stand,  (fearing,  ever 
before,  that  his  army,  in  its  heterogeneous 
state,  could  but  ill  com^^Fith  the  English, 
uniform  and  disciplin^p^fi  they  ^ere,)  and 
its  effects  were  two-fold.  .In  the  first  place. 
If  orris  was  so.  disheartened  by  this  unex^ 
^cted  defeat,  that  he^xetjeated  southwards 
with  all  speed,  leaving  Honaghan  (the  real 
bone  of  contention  )  •  in  the  hands  of  the  Irish 
A  sjtill  more  important*  advantage  was,  that 
th^^^^news  of  this  brilliant  victory  infused  a 
||iew  spirit  into  the  minds  of  nten  from  one  , 
tuA  of  Ulster  to  the  other,  calling  forth  the 
most  unbounded  confidence  in  O'Neill,  and  ^ 


'// 


Vt^   'W],    ">? 


fM^         RED  HAND  OP  UL8TBR.  * 

"     r   ■.       ■ 

encouraging  the  timid  and  the  sluggish  to 
come  forth  and  aid  in  a  struggle  which 
promised  such  glorious  results.     /    .. 

The  earl  had  barely  time  to  pay  a  passing 
visit  to  his  family  at  Dungiven,  (wjjence  he 
took  with  him  his  son  Con.,  who,  under  the 
careful  eye  of  0*Cahan,  had  grown  up  into 
a  fine,  bold-spirited  lad  of  some  sixteen  or 
seventeen,)  when  he  was  iigain  summoned  to 
meet  the  English  negotiators  at  Dundalk. 
"Ha !  ha !  "  he  said,  to  O'Cahan,  witlv  a  sig- 
nificant smile,  **  Clontihret  hath  renewed 
their  fears;  and,  having  presently  no  spare 
forces  to  recruit  Norris,  they  would  engage 
me  in  a  parley  which  they  know  will  end  in 
smoke,  merely  to  gain  time.  Well,  Brian, 
mine  old  friend,  we  will  e'en  humor  them, 
for  I,  too,  will  profit  considerably  by  some 
few  weeks,  or  even  days  of  delay."  ^     . 

*•  Meanwl|le,  what  am  I  to  do  ?  "  inquired 
__0'Cahan,  eaget  to  be  made  useful.  ^^; 

t*  Take  good  care  of  my  treasures,  Brian,  W  \ 
said  O'yeill,  more  seriously^  pointing  as  he 
spoke   to  the  beloved   group,  where  they 
itood  looking  on  dejectedly,  "  and  above  all. 


I 


BCD  HAKB  OF  tJLSTEIl. 


265 


' «  ^'*  ■ 

.'■■     ■   'f*" 

I 

■■■/•■: 

<  f 


mtke  ready  the  stout  men  of  Arachty,  fot 
Boon  we  shall  have  a  grand  muster  of  all  our 
force ;  Clontibret  will  not  long  stand  aloneT^ 
my  friend,  for  these  English  are  at  heart 
thii'sting  for  revenge." 

.      Again,   then,   O'Neill    hiet    Sir    Henry 
Wallop  and  his  brother  commissioner,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Dundalk,  taking  good  care, 
however,  to  keep  a  considerable  streamlet 
between  himself  and  them  during  the  confer- 
ence.    Here  it  was  proposed  to  him  to  lay 
down  his  arms,  and  throw  himself  on  the 
queen's  gracious  clemency,  to  which  very 
reasonable  request  the  politic  earl  listened 
with  the   utmost  attention,   as    though    it 
merited    the    most    mature    consideratiotti 
'*Well,"  said  he,  when  he  had  heard  all, 
<'I  am  quite  willing  to  give  up  the  alliance 
of  .all  the  chieftains  yif|have  named,  and  to 
•live  henceforward  Sn  He  best  terms  with 
your  government,  if  ye  will  only  seQure  to 
me  that  my  people  shall  not  be  i^ubjectfed  to 
any  incroachments  on  th^jr-jig^ts^  as  they 
now  stand.       Only    assure    me,   on    good, 
authority,  that  we,  in  this  northern  province, 


•  r.  ■ . 


,  t  ••    «  . 


}■*      "• 


^66 


s  .. 


BED  HAITI)  VOF  ULSTEE. 


shall  be  left  undisturbed  in  our  omi  rigbtful 
possessions^and  siiflfered^  to  God  in 

the  venerable  and  reyer^d  faith  of  Our  fathers ; 
keep  your  English  laws  and  your  English 
notions  of  religion  to  yourselves,  within  your 
proper  jurisdiction,  and  I  promise,  in  the 
name  o^^U  the  northern  chiefs  and  toparchs, 
•V  that  you  shall  have  no  ^sturbance  from  tis! 
Eor  my  part,  I  will  be  again  the  queen^s 
liege-^man  and  her  very  good  subject,,  provided 
these  things  are  accorded  us."  " 

.The  Englis|i  negotiators   seemed   highly 
pleased  with  -the  good  dispositjons^as  they 
thought  them)  of  the  earl,  and  became  quit^ 
friendly    in    their    €l^h^or,^hereupon 
O'Neill  took  occasion  to  play  off  a  good  jest 
at  their^^pense,  well  knowing  how  Ipecious 
and  deceptive  was , their  apparent,  good^will 
towards    him:       Assuming,    therefore>    an  . 
.  exceeding  openness  >xid'  sincerity^  together 
^ith  k  most  confideQtiai  look,  he  advanced  iJi 
;  step  nearer,  and^aid^i^  a  low^ed  voicfe  ^-^ 
-;^I  would  that  a|^:y^ 
e^udljr  well-diggy^  ^^: 

ftlasVftey,  are  liiPdSw,  \jike  id  that  wild 


^i^* 


,  w 


"'f^. 


f(t 


A 


BED  KAND  OF  ULSTER.  i26T 

CDonneil,  to  rjt,  and  noftimg  Wm- 
tame  him  down  to  the  quiet  performant^  of    \ 
his  duty  as  a  subject  of  the  queen.   /I  am 
credibly    informed    (nay,    draw    somewhat 
nigher,)  that  he  still  holds  treasonable  com-    . 
munication  with  Spain ;  ay,  and  hark  ye,  p. 
Spanish  ship  hath  just  now  arrived  in  one  of 
his  ports,    ^o  let  the  deputy  look  to  this  J  I 
have  done."     Aild  so  he  took  a  courteoill 
leave>)f  the  two  envoys^  who  returned  t9. . 
Publin,  hugging  to  their  hearts  the  flattering^ 
notion  that  they  had  room  to  liop6  %  A 
favorable  change  in  the  earl'is  taiifcs.^  Alas ! 

their  hopes  ^^ould  have,  vanished  4ike  fli6 
morning  dew,had  they  heard  tjie  merry  laugh  ; 
which  echoed  -through  the  vaulted  halls  ofe  ! 
Donegal  Gastle,  when,  in  a  d^  or  two  after, 
'  .Tyrone  paid  a  visit  to  his  friend  and  confed-  - 
-erate,  and  told  him;  how  he  tad  descrflsed  ' 
him  to  like  EtigKehmeri.  ^ «  Unluckily,'!  said 
O'Donn^U,  "  the  part  appertaming  tQ;  the 
arrival  of  the  ship,  is  the  oply/f art  of. the 
charge  which  Is  not  true ;  <^|0egotiations  in. 
that  quarter  have  hitherto  brought  but  little  > 
in  the  W  o^  hejp.     But^o  on,  Hugh,  tell 


\ 


{'► 


^ 


■i-. 


268 


»Kb  HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


./ 


that  half  a  do^n  foreign  yemh  have  been 
landmg  men  and  arms  in  TyrCoinell,  so 
as  the  ^newr  will  be  Kkely  ta.henefit  thy 

»iegotaation8.'V  ,    p.-^:^^^        .^  ^ 

^«goic^  V  tHe  encou^inl^rt  of  iia 

agents,  Russell  .nstrpcted   t^t  to  «itte 

.peace  with  O'NeiU,  c.^^^ 

crush  the  otMrcyeftains.  and  be^rwards 
at  liberty  to  deal  with  himself  as  their  owtt 

"  "^^T^  B"t"oV>e  of  tVse  schemes 
^^dden  from  the  all.piercfng  penetrai 
tion,pf  O'Nedl;  and  so  when  the  commis-^ 
toners  came  again  to  r)undalk;aiid  iayited 
lumto^eet  them  there  at  an  early  day.  to 
eonolude  a  j,eace..  he  tetunied  no  anwer.'  ' 
Ihe  -  day  came,  and  anxiously  did  the  tWo 
,     plenipotentiaries  await  his  coming,  but  they  ^ 

^^^C'¥  •■"^°»'   -"o^  till-d^ 
eve  _  did  the  day  pass  away,  buj  ,o  O'NeilJ  .: 

wasforthcommg.     So  tbej^Vrofe  Sgaifi,  ^7^ 
jng  hip  most  earnestly.-to  come  forw«d  and ' 
f  ^  himself  of  the  powers  y^ed  in-their 
i  '^*'  ""*  eagerly  awaited  the  *  result-it  ' 


'  --M 


BKD  KAND  or  TJLB1?]ftE, 


je69 


*i 


•  'im  Rename  as  before,  ^^i^^  followmg 
dajr,  however,  just  as  th^^BPpiparing  ta 
setj  out  for  Dublin,  cafW#  a  imm  from  %, 
Tyrone,  apologizing  for  his  absenr;e,  ^ 
declaring  that  as  he  liad  ni#  iwmd  to  make 
peace  on  any  t^rms,  likely  to  be  pr^fosed  by 
them,  there  was  no  manner  ul  use  Mi  gfl^ 
tracting  the  n©foti«tions.     '' Ftii^rni^©," 


¥*■ 


said  he^  "^ib  term  truce^Si^e  «i|| 

been  kept  by  your  peopfe.    That  incorrigible 
Bagnal  hath  been  ^gain  marauding  in  the 
environs  of  his  fortress,  and  doth  still  refuse/ 
to  give  up  flitftain/cattle,  and  other  spoils, 
which  he  hath4ak|k.     So  here,  let  this  idle 
,parleying  eilij  for  War  alone  can  settle  the 
difference  between  us." 
VThe  truth^was,  that  all  ttjs  time  O^eill 
had  been  preparing  a  forice  to  attack  Armagh, 
whidh  city  wjg^  ocpupied  by  a  strong  English 
|arrison.     Mt  the  garrison  was  not  the  sole 
©bstacle  ;  for  without  thpoity,  at  the  distanc^  . 
U  $  very  few  miles,  lay   General   Norri^, 
'^dth   the  main   part:  of  hi«  ai?«Siy,   havi«i| 
'formed  an  encampment  in  and  aroui6i4  m0 
pld  church  of  K  illoughter.     Here^  then,  waJ 

,.i*r.      ■  •       ■  '    ■...  ^ 

f"    .  '.      :   '  .  ,-::;,■>...,.■'•,,..       ;,:.   ^ 


'■-% 


m 


HBD  HAND  OF  TJLSTBB. 


'  / 


t\>- 


work  fo^  inventive  genius,  for  it 

behoved  him  to  get  Norris's  army  dislodged, 
.ere  he  could  hope  tp  gain  Armagh.     Theife 
^s,  however,  no  time  to  be  lost ;  so  maklnk 
up  his  mind  at  once  for  a  vigorous  push,  he 
fell  upon  the  English  when  least  expected 
with  a  fury  that  baffled  ^11  resistance,  and^  not 
.  only  expelled  them  from  KiUodghter,  but 
-^-made  the  country  aipun^so  hot  for  Nonis, 
that  the  latter  was  glad^to|allJback  on  Dun-  ' 
dalft,    having  first    succeeded    in    vimting 
Armagh,  whose  garrison  he  strengthened  by 
^ye  hundred,  or  so  of  his  own  mdir  s    But ' 
BOW  the  strong  walls  of  Armagh  were  before 
ON^ll,  and  Within  the  city,  a  brave  and 

\  determined  force;  his  people,  too,  were  but 
little  accustomed  to  the  storming  6f  •  stoi^ 
walls,  and  Jar  too  impatient, .  tb  ari^ait  with 
eahnness,  the  result>bf  a  protract^  siege. 

Ahey  better  loved  a  rushing  chargk  in  the  " 
open  field,  or  the  guerilla  wariar^  W  the 
woods.and  mountains,  and  soon  tired  W  sit- 
ting idly  before  battlements  :of  8t6ne."A  But ' 
(yNeiUwas  never  at  a.los's  for  a- stratagem,    ' 
and  now,  h^  hit  upon  one  .which  J  ca^tiot 

■a  *  ^  • 


.    ,'      *■ 

•■•:'.^;';  ,M:  dra^ 

.'••:.:;ft:^"-v^-thei 

"    i '    p 

1     ^     8^F 

of  i 

X  ■:  ■'^com 

A- 

'■y'^.'-'^ 

\ .;;:  v^escc 

circ 

\ 

:-  V  '^^  '  ;bej 
\       trar 

\    mei 

* 

Aligt 

■ 

:\Y>\to 

%    , 

'"""[      sm\ 

•  ruii 

."of'^1 

to,, 

^ 

'        thai 

,  ^    /  An 

"^i 

.    *    a  St 

i 


r.  * 


BID  HANI)  (JIF  VtSTER, 


«ll 


*\5 


r' 


foifbear  relating,  altli<]^iijg^1i  iny  limits  toe 
dmwing  to  a  narrow  cb^mpa^s.  It  seems, 
the^,  that  Norris,  knowing  the  scarcity  of 
prbYisions  in  the  garrison^  had  sent  a  fresh 
supply,  under  the  convoy  of  three  companies  - 
of  foot,  and  "a  troop  of  horse ;  hut  O'Neill, 
coming  upoi^^h^  by  surprise,  had  captured 
the  provisions,  aud  made  .prisoners  of  the 
^escort  NoMi^it  opcurred  to  him>  that  this: 
circumstance  might  be  turned  to-  good 
account,  so  he  caused  the  English  soldiers  to 
be  stripped  of  their  uniform.  Which  }$e  then 
transferred  to  ^  equal  number  of  his  own 
men,  and  these  he  sent  off  by  the  earliest 
light  qf  /day,  as  though  they  were  marching 
to  relieve  Arijciagh.  "Then,"  says  the 
Jbiograpner  of  O'Neill,  "  having  stationed  an 
ipnbuscade  before  morning,  in  the  walls  43f  a 
'  ruined  monastery,  lying  on  the  .eastern  side 
"of  the  tjity,  he  sent  another  body  of  troops 
to;  meet  the  r^d-cpated  gallow-glasses ;  so 
that  "waen  day  dawned,  -  the  *  defenders  of 
,  Armagh!  beheld,  what  they  inaagihed  toTbe, 
*  a  strong  \  body  of  their  countiymen,.  in  fu^l 
/"^  na^ch  tojrelieye  tJi^ni  with  supplies  of  pro- 


A 


■".■.'5i- 


%  ' 


*i".    . 


^i,. 


">• '  'y^.' 


^n 


■W-:: 


■■\ 


BBD  HAND.  OF  ULSTER* 


Visions;  then  t%>aw  0»NeiIl's  troops  ruaB 
to  attack  theg#ndla  furWs  contest  seemea 
to  be  ^rriea  on,    ]^  apparently  the  'E^. 
vlish  were  overipate^    r^^  of  them  fell, 
;   and^the  Inshjrere^pres^n^  forward,  pour- 
ftingrm^  their  pffit,  and  brandfehing  their  bat- 
^  ^tle-axes,  withUU  the  tumult  olf  a  heavy  figa^^ 
-.-il^-^^^"*^  garrison  could  not  endure  thir 
m^    4.  strong  sallying  party  issued  from 
the  (iity,  and  rushed  to ^pport  their  fnends- 
.but  when  they  came  to  tjie  field  o^  battle,  all 
the  combatants  -^on  both  sides,  tdrned  their 
jreappns  against  them  alone.     T^  English 
,  ^w  the  snare  that  had  been  laid  for  them 
^d  made  for  the  waUs  again ;    but  now^  ' 
Con.  O^NeillandV  his  party  issued  from  the 
monastery,  and  cut  off  thefe  retreat.  ^  They 
i,-^efended  themselves ^Jlaiitly,  but  were  all 
^^t  to  pieces,  and  the  Irish  entered  the  city  > 
-m  triumph.     Stafford  and  f he  remnant  ^v^ 
his^g^ott,  Tvere  allowed  to  retire  ;to  JDto.    - 
d^ky  and  OmiU,  who  wanted  no  st^ng^^ 
places,  .dismantled    the    forti^cations/  and 
then  absjiidoned  the*town»." 
!     -^^t  ^agii  was.  by  fb'  too  important  a 


■■1 


^-s^ 


^. 


BBD  BAND  OF  ULSTER.       ^  S'/f 


pV<Je,  to  be  left  long  deserted,  and  a  few 
weeks  only  had  elapsed,  i^hen  tidiiigs  were 
brdught  to  the^arl,  that  it  W  ^^       pod-  - 
..  session  of  the  English ;  a  ]^ 
soldiers  having  made  their  way  thithei^^  from  \ 
Newry,   and   had  hastily  thiitpwn  up   some     "^^ 
fortifications  on  the  dismantle^d  walls,  so  as' 
ytomske  the  plaoe  in  some  m^ner  flefensi-  17 
ble.     This  news  Vas  fexceedin^y  anhoying 
to  the  earl ;  but  as  matters  of  mbre  import- 
ance demoded  his  attention  at  t^inome^, 
he  could  but  ill ;  spare  a  force  \equal  to 
ihe  taking  of  th^  place,  even  in  ^its:  lialf- 
fortified  condition,  so  he  kept  the  niatter  to. 
himself,  and  left  the  garrison  in  peaceful 
possession  for  some  thrie'  longer,  hoping  that 
the  fortunes  of  war,  li^onid  soon  mak^  him 
mastei:  of  the  re-fortified  city.  V 

|p  A  ch^ge  of  deputies  todk  place  abtitut|bis      :-~ 
ta^rvMid^  Loi^  De  Burgh,  who^as  sent  to 
^place  Sir  William  Eussell,  was  a  much 
indre  formidable  opponent  than  his  predecei^        * 
sor,  haying  served  with  success  in  the  "Eo^y, 
Countries,  igainst  Philip  of  Spain.     This    - 
ifas  well  k^own  to  Q^NeiU  ;  and  no  sooner  f-- 

i:v  J  ;■■:'::  ^-^  18- 


■l  -  r  _^ifi 


v-'v 


:-\   ' 


\-r 


\.  .. 


■  ■  .  « 


•■    . .  ■   V, 


^KED  HANB  OF!  TTLSTBR. 


"■  vt- 


•  <; 


was  his  daughter's  mwriage  celebrated;  and 
the  alliance  of  4)'Donnell  secured^  than  he 
applied  the  whole  energies  of  his /capacious, 
mind  to  meet  and  forestall,  (if  po&sible,)  the  ' 
rigorous*  measures,   which  he    well^  knew 
would  follow  thearrival  of  Be  Burgh.     The 
latter  had  come  overy.^ested  with  full  pdVers 
6>^  carrjr  Ion    the   no^hem  war,  and   with 
implicit  instructions  to  be  on  his  guard  against  -C 
the  deceptive  polujy;  of  O'NeUL     Yet,  not-: 
withstanding^ his  determination  toifuMltfeesr 
instructions  to  the  lett%,  De  Burgh  fomnd  it   : 
'  absolutely  necessary  to  make  a  monthfs  truce  '  - 
-  — ^  vf  ^^V  ^"   ^^^fsr  to  hurry  U  his  . 

Tha^nonth  was  turt^ed  to  gcipd  account  by  ^ 
O'Neill,  who  pent  messengers  iu^ll  directions^ '  ^ 
to  stir  up  t%  confederatfe^-^ast,  west,  north, 
and  south.  All  w^%stleind  preparation 
within  his  own  immediate  district ;  itien  were 
drilled  and  q;s:ercJsed  j.  weapon^j  bumishef 
and  whetted,  attd  ammunition  prepared.  Not 
aday,'no^ajiourwas  lost  during  all  that 
month;  .^d^yet,  at  its  close,  the  news xame 
somewhat  ^ii^denly  that  two  gr^at  divisions 


.^' 


.^' 


:_:ii 


i._^ 


'«! 


\ 


^^ 


.>^ 


■,/ 


■■■■■■    ■■'^■•/    •^■^■•''     -■■■•■•     ■~i.-'  ,.  ..  ..     ..     .,. 

.1        JIBD  HANI)  OF  ULSTER.  ]    ftj[(f 

of  the  English  army  were,  marching  upon 
himr--one  with  the  warlike  De  Burgh,  in 
'.person,  and  some  Anglo-Irish  lords  6f  the 
Pale,  bommg  direct  by  wiijt  of  kewry  and 
'  Armagh,  while  the  other,  commanded  by  Sir 
Conyers  Clifford,  was  making  a  circuit  frbm 
GoBLiiaught  by  the  western  shole  of  Lough 
^me.     Now,  then  or  never  was  the  time  for 
*fip^^:»  ft  simultaneous  resistance ;  and,  as 
though,  to  stir  up  all  the  Irish,  it  soon  became 
known  that^  a^^^Sf  ^  smaller  corps  of  the  Eng- 
lish ^rmy  waaiheh  assembling  at  Mullingar, 
to  march  northward  immediately  on  being 
completed.     On  hearing  this  last  annlounce- 
ment,  O'Neill  si^mmoned  his  officers  together; 
(they  wer^,  m^y  of  them,  chiefs  of  clans,) 
>^d  laying  before  them  the  necessity  of  pre- 
:enting  the  juij|^on  of  all  these^  divisions, 
askeij  who  would '  tindeiftC^e  to  meet  vand 
engage    (with  s^ck.M  force    ^s  he  could 
al^ae  spare^ j|iis  dkachn^t  from  Miullmgar. 

^^    ^^JHr^P  ^^^^^^^^^    spokeu    when 
Kichard  l^HuLsfcarted  forth  from  amid  the^' 
throng  —  hi^iq^s^^  allv  triavel-staitte^,  for  he 
had  but 
folIoweK 


tched  the,  camp 


-Vx  *   ' 


m 


V 


■'■*!%■■ 


I'"-     fli 


^,. 


!/. 


■■:■■/-' 


'  ■!  ■ 


me 


RK)  rAnb  op  ulster. 


"That  will  r,  %  lord  I  "  he  gaily  cried ; 
"  only  give  me.  two  or  three  hundred  of  those' 
well-trained  Tyrone  men,  and"  as  this  young 
Bamewell  has  but  a  thousand  men,  they  say, 
I  will  undertake  to  keep  him  back,  so  help 
me  God  and  our  blessed  Lady  i  " 
^"Nay,  Richard,"   said   O'Neill,  Wlirmly 
-  i)ressing  the  young  man's  hiind,  and  regard- 
inghim  with  a  paternal  smile  of  warmest 
approval;    ** nay,    my  brave   young  friend, 
thou  shalt  have  four  hundred,  and  if,  with 
these,  thou  canst  keep  a  check  on  this  West- 
'  meath  force,  I  will  call  thee  the  bravest  lad 
on  Irish  ground!" 

IP  "And  I  would  venture  much  farther  than 
I  now  do,"  returned  the  generous  Tyrrell, 
^*  to  be  so  styled  by  thee,  whose  good  opin-  > 

ion   I   covet   more   than  any  other  earthlv 
■:thing."  ■  ■■;  -•■■-::■:■;■■.-■.■-      - 

In  an  hour  after  the  gallant  Tyrrell'  was  on 
his  jaarch,  with  his  four  hundred  men,  and 
■  having  reached  a  certain  part  of  the  country, 
which  he  knew  it  would  nof  be  safe  to  let 
Barneweil  pass,  he  quietly  awaited  tlie  Eng- 
lish. In  due  time  these  latter  marched  forth 
'from  Mullingar,  but  <were  soon  informed  O^t^ 


7  r 


It 


/-. 


ULSTEB. 


277 


a^  Irish  detachdip^waited  their  approach. 
Ekcpedingly  disconcerted,  their  commauder 
ii^uired  the  number  of  the  eneihy,  and  on 
hearing  that  they  were  but  four  hundred 
strong,  "  0haw  I  "  cried  he,  contemptuously, 
**let  us  on,  my  lads;  what  have  we  to  fear 
^om  such  «  trifling  body  as  that?  By  St 
.George  we  shall  soon  make  short  woxk  of 
them.'*'-  •-■;■-.:■" 

He  went  on,  accordingly,  till  within  sight 
of  the  Irish,  and  the  sight  did  but  increase 
his  contempt.  Eagerly  he  spurred  forward, 
calling  on  his  men  to  follow ;  and  seeing  that 
the  Irish  retreated  before  him— "Hal  ha!" 
he  shouted,  waving  his  plumed  cap  |n  tri- 
umph, "see,  they  are  afraid  even  to  stand  a 
battle.  Hurrah  for  merry  England,  and 
Sown  with  all  rebels!  Ay,  there  they  go, 
but  they  shall  not  escape  us ;  ride  for  it  men, 
nde  for  it,  I  say!" 

-  But  this  retreat  t)f\  Tyrrell  was  only 
feint,  in  order  to  draw  the  enemy  into/ a 
narrow  de^le  of  the  woods,  which  he,  in  his 
perfect    knowledge    of    the    country,    had 
choseii  for  t^  battle.    At  the  entrajice  of 


1^ 


\  \ 


v. 


MiqiOCPPY  IISpiUTION  IKir  CHAIT 

:     (ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  Ni^2J 


^ 


1.1 


1.25 


rr'-^   ''■■:_ 

LIMU 

|» 

|2j2 

1.8 


,  /- 


,  /..^SS^F*^- 


»PPL,IEO  ilVMGE    he 

5g%i  1653  Eost  Main  Strwt 

B^S  Rochester,  N«w  York       14609      USX 

^g  (7W)  482  -  03P0  -  Phone  >r 

^S  (716)  288 -6989 -Fox  ' 


■^ 


278 


^ 


RED   HAND  OP  tJLSTEE. 


this  pass  he  stationed  a  party  in  ambush, 
under  the  c^mand  of  his  lieuteni^nt,  while 
he,  himself,  continued  his  flight  with  the 
main  body,  so  as  to  draw  the  foe  still  farther 
into  the  defile.     On  flew  the  lightly-mounted 

\gallow-glasse*s,  as  though  in  a  fearful  panic, 
and  after  them,  rushed  the  Anglo-SaxQns^ 
headed  by  their  chief/  No  sooner  had  the 
last  of  them  entered  the  gorge  than  O'Connor, 
Tyrreirs  lieutenant,  blew  a  stirring  blast  on 
the  bugle,  and  fell  on  them  furiously  in  the 
rear,  while  Tyff ell,  with  his  band,  turning 
short  round,  attacked  them  facie  to  flice ;  from 
ttembling  fugitives,. (as  they  seemed  to  be,) 
becoming,  on  the  instant,  fierce  assailaints. 
The  enemy,  thus  surrounded,  resisted  to  the 
last,  but  resistance  was  only  certain  destnic- 
tion,  and  so  entirely\ere  they  cut  off',~that, 

^(according  to  MacGeoghegan,)  only  one  man 
escaped  alive,  and  that  by  wading  through 
the  bogs,  to  Mullingar,  besides  Barnewell, 
who  was  reserved  a?  a  prisoner  for  O'Neill, 
Tyrrell  being  anxious  to  give  this  proof  how 
Veil  his  task  had  been  performed. 

In  memory  of  that  bloody  battle,  that 


^. 


BB)   H*N1»   <*'   ULSTER.  279 

defile  receitred  the  ftamro?  Tyrrell's  Pas^. 
from  the  Voung  chieftain  who  planned  and 
achieved  ^  victory.  .But  now  he  collected 
his  men  ,without  loss  of  time  and  set  out  for 
the  Iri^'h  camp,  for  ij  was  generally  knoT^p 
that  lie  Burgh  had  reached  Armagh   and 
was^eparing  for  a  grand  descent  on  O  NeiU  s 
ooutftry.      One  consolation   was,   that    the 
deiAty  found  himself  thrown  altogether  on 
hilown  resources ;  for,  of  the  two  divisions 
hich  had  actually  set  out  to  support  the 
main  branch  of  the^y  unfer  his  command. 
/  the  one  was, .  as  :^ie  have  seen,"  cut  off  by 
Tyrrell,  while  the  other,  which  was  to  have 
come  from  Gonnaught,  .had.  unluckily,  to 
pass   thr'ough  the  wount^n  fastness,  then 
^der  the  guardian  care  of  Hugh  O'Donnell. 
"So,  when  Glifflbrd  was  marching  on,  little 
dreaming  of  opposiSos:  in  fee  wild  regions, 

what  should  start  forward,  right  in  hjs  pass, 
at  a  little  distance  in  front,  but  tjo  thousand 
of  the  fierce  Clan-connal.  H^te  wa8_.^n 
unwelcome  rencontre,  and,  as  Clifford's  foree 
>  numbered  no  more  than  seven  hundred  men, 
so  he  wiwly  walked  back  as  h?  came,  having 


(    ■■' 


■ac 


2S0 


RED   HAI^TD   OF   ULSTER. 


./ 


-no  yery  great  desire  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  <*  red-hot  chief  of  Tyrconnell."  So 
much,  then,  for  De  Burgh's  auxiliaries  that 
were  to  have  been ;  but  he,  himself,  moved 
fearlessly  onward,  expecting  a  brilliant  vic- 
tory, for  his  fimy  was  still  both  numerous 
imd  well-appointed.  He  went  forward,  but 
it  was  to  mee^us  fate,  and  that  of  his  army, 
on  the  BlaedBn 


■»!*; 


?^: 


CHAPTER   IX* 


*'  Th«r6  '8  ft  iQur-fiuned  Blaokwatur^  that  nufl  to  Loagh  NMgh. 

'-■♦.'•:*  *     ■       •,      .     #  •  •  , 

from  the  banks  of  that  rirer  Benburb's  towen  arise. 


*  ♦  ♦  #  «  #^j       « 

The  shrines  of  Atuiagh  gleam  far  orer  yon  lea, 
Nw  afiur  is  Dttngannon  that  nnrsed  liberty, 
.        And  yonder  Red  liugh  ■' 

Marshal  Bagnal  o'erthrew,"^ 

On  Beal-an-attia-Baidhe." 


Datis. 


It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  first 
step  of  O'NeiU's'  conquering  career  was  the 
taking  %f  that  castle  at  Portmore,  which> 
built  on  his  own  grounds^  had  for  years 
thrown  its  hateful  shade  ojj.the  fertile  banks 
of  the  Blackwater.     But  this  place  was  too 


.  ,< 


BSD 


.* 


IJLSTEB. 


281 


important  to  be  entirely  given  up  by  the 
Englisb ;  and  now,  when  Lord  De  Burgb^' 
found  himself  qn  the  borders  of  Tyr-owen, 
his  Irst  object  was  to  regain  possession  of 
that  deserted  fortress.     But  this,  his  design, 
was  anticipated  by  the  earl,  and  when  the 
deputy  would  have  passed  on  to  the  castle, 
he  found  that  the  woods  in  the  neighborhood 
were  occupied  by  a  strong  force  of  the  Insh. 
B\lt  O'Neill  was  not  there  in  person ;  and  so, 
whenDe  Burgh  attacked  the  defenders  of 
'the  pass   with  overpowering  numbers,   he 
succeeded  in  driving  them  back,  ^nd  planted 
^me  of  his  pwn  men  jn  their  place.     Before 
C^NeiU  couW  get  his  people  brought  up 
again  to  the  contest,  the  English  had  crossed 
the  river,  seized  the  castle,  and  fiUed  it  with 
some  of  their  best   and  most  experienced 
soldiers.       Loud  were  the   exultations   ot 
the  Saxons,  aid  merrily  did  they  •  celebrate 
their    easy  victory ;.    for    the    enemy    was 
no  Where  to  be  seen;  and  it   was  natui^ 
to   suppose  that  O'NeiU  had  faUen  b^k 
disconcerted  by  this  opening  defeat       But 
just    while    the    shout    of    triumph    was 


=fti 


2S2 


REP  HAKD  OF  ULSTER. 


1 


j»o^<Jing  loudest^  the  heads  of  more  than 
one,  two,  or  thre6  columns  of  the  Irish  army 
were  seen  emerging  from  the  woods,  a  short 
way  up  the  river,  on  the  same  side  whereon 
the  castle  was  situated.     They  were  seen  t6 

•  take  up  a  strong  position,  right  between  Port- 
more  and  the  villagerof^enburb,  but  some- 
what nearer  to  the  latter;  and  as  they. defiled 
frotn  the  Woods  they  formed  into  .the  order^ 
of  battle,  going  through  the  various  evolutions 
with  a  rapidity  and  exactness  which  called 
forth  the  admiration  of  the  most  experienced 
officers  in  the  English  army.  It  was  evident 
that  O'Neill  was  about  to  offer  battle ;  and 

*'IK)W,  too  late,  the  deputy  and  his  colleagues 
^discovered  that  Tyrone,  according  to  his  usual 
iaystem,  had  allured  them  to  cross  the  river, 
by  giving  thetti  that  cheap  victory  in  the  pass, 
in  order  that  he  might  take  up  a  good  and 
advantageous  position.  There  was  nothing 
for  it  now,  however,  but  to  make  the.  test  of 
a  bad  bargain ;  so  De  Burgh  sent  forward  one 
wing,$f  his  army,  under  the  Earl  of  Kildare, 
to  dislodge  the  Irish,  Seeing  that  the  latter 
showed  no  disposition  to  move,  the  deputy 


r 


■/ 


■♦»■ 


ft 


RED  HAND  OF  tJLSTEU. 


283 


M 


himself  movedlforwarrf  to  KiWare's  assistanc^,  - 
at  the  head  of  \\\  his  remaining  strength,     ^t 
ia'evident  that  De  Burgh  had  miscalculated 
;the  numbers /of  the  Irish,  for  when,  after 
some  hard  fighting,  he  succeeded  in  beking^ 
back  their  cfolumns  beyond  the  villago\  of 
Benburb,  h/came  full  upon  a  vastly  super^r 
and  much /more  numerous  force,  consistilW 
of  th^  ch/sen  troops  of  Tyr^owen  and  TyrV 
Gonnell,  together    with    those     redoubtaUe\ 
MacBo/nells.of    Antrim,    all    three   com- 
manded  by   their    chiefs,  in    person.       If 
De  BArgh  had  seen  a  hideous  spectre  he  could 
not /have    been    more   surprised— nay,   we 
mi^t  say  terrified  ;  but  it  was  not  for  him 
to  show  any  undue  alarm ;  so,  without  wait- 
ing to  be  attacked,  he  fell  upon  the  allied^ 
chieftains  with  a  force  and  fury  meaiit  to  be 
irresistible.     Alas !  in  the  very  first  heat  of 
the  combat,  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  and 
was  catried  from  the  field.     And  now,  the 
■    fierci.  hot  blood  of  the.  Ulster  clans  was 
foused;  on,  and  on,  and  on,  they  dashed— 
sweeping  away  all  opposition,  their  chief|ain3 
taking  the  lead;  and  urging  them  on  by 


^:h; 


\'.  -'■**^^-  "^'^ 


1iS4t 


BBD   HAND  OF   ULSTER. 


4 


example  as  well  as  voice.  Down  went, 
in  succession^  before  those  rushing  hordes, 
the  proudest  atid  bravest  of  the  opposing 
army ;  Kildare,  that  unworthy  branch  of 
the  Geraldinc  tre6,  was  struck  down, 
despite  the  devoted  defence  of  his  two 
foster-bro|hers,  who  covered  him  with  their 
own  bodies  till  both  of  them  were  "Hewn 
dbwn — Sir  Francis  Vaughan  (the  deputy*s 
brother-in-law)  and  many  other  officers  of 
high  rank.  Nothing  could  resist  the  sweep- 
ihg  torrent  of  Irish  battle-axes,  and  when,  at 
length,  the  victors  paused  to  take  breath, 
there  was  no  longer  any  show  of  opposition. 
The    English    army    (or    rather    its   "poor 

mains)  was  evidently  preparing  for  a  hasty 
exit,  and  some  of  the  Irish  chieftains  were 
for  intercepting  their  retreat ;  but  to  this 
O'Neill  would  not  consent,  saying,  with  that 
clemency  which  marked  his  character,  "  Xet 
them  e'en  go,  there  hatb  been  slaughter 
enough  for  one  day;.  Let  them  go,  in  God's 
name,  for  ouy.  victory  is  confplete  as  it  is  !'* 

So  the  English  were  suffered  to  joiarch 
away    without     further    molestation^  and 


\ 


'i^ 


^  *>*  , 


RW)  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


%Sb 


m 


O'Neill  turned  tit  attention  to  the  recoveiT 
of  the  fortress  whose  possession  had  cost  the 
enemy  so  dear.  For  the  present  he  allowed 
his  army  to  rest,  but  in  a  few  days  he  Ksnt 
a  large  party  to  atUck  the  fortress.  It 
chanced,  however,  that  the  commander  of 
the  Harrison  was  a  veteran  officer  of  skill 
and  courage,  and  so  well  did  ho  conduct  the 
defence,  that  day  after  day  passed  away  and 

found  the  Irish  still.  bBpg  I'cfore  tl'e  castlfe. 

Never  was  siege  m  J|-fiercely  carried  on  ; 
\but,never,  on  the  other  hand,  was  defence 

W  kept  up,  and  at  length  qNexll  was 

Obliged  to  leave  matters  as  they  stood,  hoping 

soonxto  return  with  fresh  vigor  and  better 

flucceskto  the:  charge.  ,    ,.   / 

.NewsXsoon  after  reached  the  north,  that 
Lord  De%rgh,  and  also  Kildare,^had  died 
of  their  woVds— received  at  the  battle  of 
Bettburb,  aiJthataLord  Lieutenant  had  W 
appointed,  being  none  other  than  the  Eafl 
of  Ormond.  w^  gave  O'Neill  no  llttl? 

■satisfaction.  One^  of  the  first  fh«t|  of 
Ormond'B  friendly  \influence,  was  the  otter 
of  an  eight  weeks'  t\uce,  which  Tyrone  did 


,  -H 


V 


■   \ 


m 


.   I. .        .,     '   ,1)  •  -*   •    I 

BSD  HAXIDI  OF  UL8TBR. 


0 


not  choose  to  declinet     Tho  two  earls  met 
at  the  old  rendezvous,  Dundalk,  and  O'Neill 
being  asked  what  his^^ct^mands  were^  replied 
nearly  in  the  same  terms  as  before :    **  What 
I  artd  my  brother  chiefs  require,  „your  lord- 
ship cannot  but  know ;  we  seek   liberty  of 
conscience,  and  that  the  persecution  where- 
with our  faith  hath  been  so  long   pursued, 
shall  henceforward  cease,  not  only  in  Ulster, 
but  throughout  the  Catholic  land  of  Ireland. 
Ourselves,  and  our  territories,  and  our  pet^r 
pie,  are  in   no   way   to   be   meddled  with. 
These  are  our  terms ;  also,  th^t  full  repara- 
^tion  be  made  us  for  the  spoils  carried  away 
from   our  lands,  at  various   times,   by  the 
garrisons   of  the  different  English  posts!" 
>Ormond,  whose  ancient  friendship  for  O'Neill, 
*time  had  in  no  degree  lessened,  made  it  a 
point    to    transmit   these   proposals   tp   the 
queen,  in  th^  most  favdl-abl^  light ;  and  yet; 
when   at  |;h<^^end   of  the  truce   the   royal 
answer  arrived,  it  was  found  such  as  to  puA 
an  end  to  ike  negotiations.    ^ A  pardon  was, 
indeed,  offered  to  the  Earl  of  Tyrone,  but  dn 
such  conditions  that  it  was  rather  looked 


EKD   HAND  or   UWr^B. 


«§7 


•'    -      ■■^-  ,-.< 


upon,  by    him,    as    an    aggravated    insult. 
Amongst  the  conditions  of  this  pardon,  were 
these:  " That  he  should,  forthwith,  break  up 
the   grca^  Northern    League,'  diiiband    his 
forces,  and  send  away  all  foreigneri*from 
his    country;    that    he    should   repair   tlie , 
Blackwater  fort  and  bridge;    renounce  the 
title  of  O'Neill,  and  all  jurisdiction  belong- 
ing   to  that    chieftaincy;    admit    a    sheriff 
.into  Tyr-owen;  pay  a  fine ;    deliver  up  all 
^aitofs  ;  (that  itf^*«^>ay,  all  who  should  pre- 
f^me  to  ~  profess   the   Catholic   religion,  or 
bear   arms   against   the   English ;)   that   he 
should  discover  his  negotiations  with  Spain  ; 
and  give  his  eldest  son  as  a  hostage  for  the 
due    performance     of     these     conditions." 
Others  tHere  weie&,  too,  but  these  were  the 

'   ji>rincipal.  »  ' ' 

;« By  ihine  honor,"  said  O'Neill,  turning 
to  Tyrrell,  who  accompanied  him,  "by  my. 
knightly  honor,  but  these  are  strange  pro- 
poses, considering  that  they  are  made  to  a 
'  victor.  :0f  what  avail  would  be  our  recent 
triumph  were  all  or  any  of  these  modest 
conditions  to  bd  fulfilled?     Nay,  my  lord 


•4 


ms 


RBD  HAND  'OF   UL8TMB. 


Ormond,"   ho   said,    again   addrcBsing^    that 
.  nobleman,   "  it  is  but  waste  of  time  making 
iuch  idl«  proposals  as  these.     Twice  already 
have  I  rejected  them— -even  when  unsustaincd 
by  recent  sijcccss  ;  and  yet  they  were  never 
so  audacious  as  these  now  arc.     Mcthinks  it 
is  a  strange  anomaly  that  my  success  dpth 
but   make   the   enemy   bolder.      No,   mine 
ancient  fricdTd,  to  not  one  of  these  conditions 
'  will  I  agree.     The  chieftains-of  the  north  are 
up  in  theif  mightV  vicitory  hath  descended 
on* our  armriiwe  will  keep  them  in  our 
hands,  so  help  me  the  just  and  righteous 
God4  until  we  have  obtained  freedom  for  our 
faith,    liberty   for    ourselves,    and    a    total 
f^sessation  of  Eng:lish  nieddling  in  our  con- 
cerns.    This  is  my  fintd  answer,  and  so  thou 
mayest  say  to  the  4uee|i." 

"Then  thou  art  redolved  to  hold  out?" 
iaid  Ormond,  anxioualy. 

"How  can  I  do  otierwise?.  I  put  it  to 
thine  ^wn  sincere  judgment." 

Ormond  did  not  reply;  for  if  he  had,  he 
must  have  acknowledged  that  O'Neill  was 
r^ht ;  but,  with  a  quivering  lip  and  moistened 


•  \ 


W- 


.^^u:  T'^j.—T  f  7  jjij^jiMi 

':^.:  •'■ ' 

RW)  « AJTf>  OF  tri^STER. 

889 

eye,  ho  grafpcd  the  outstretched  hjnid,— 
"Then,  farewell,  my  fricncl,^ur  lots,  It 
appears,  are  widely  different  —  mine  to 
sustain  the  English  power — thine  is,  what?'* 

**  To  battle  against  oppression  and  injus- 
tice, while  God  givcth  me  power !  '*  returned 
O'Neill,  OS  he  warmly  shook  the  carl's  hand. 
<'An<l  now,  Ormondi  God  be  with  thee; 
when  we  Vcct  again  it  mny  be  on  the  tented 
field,  as  focipen." 

"  But  evei,  friends  at  heart — shall  it  not 
be  so?"  '  >  - 

"So  far  as  the  promise  concometh  me,  I 
answer,  from  my  soul,  yes !  ** 

Upon  whil^h  the  two  old  friends — the 
great  Norman  Bi^ler  of  the  Pale,  and  the 
still  greater  MilesW  chief — separated  with 
mutual  good  will,  i^nd  set  out,  the  one  for 
Dublin,  and  the  otheJr  to  prosecute,  the  war, 
already  so  well  begun.  Yet  O^ond's 
friendship  could  not  r^st  there;  so  he  mkde 
use  of  all  his  credit  at  coilrt  to  obtain  an 
unconditional  pardon  for  O'Neill.  Having 
succeeded,  he  wrote  to  inform  Tyrone  of  his 
success,  urging  him  tdVinalk:e  peace.     "For," 


"% 


J: 


JS 


ify 


£90 


BED  HAND  OF  UI5TER, 


said  he^  ''thou*  hast  no  longer  an  excuse ; 
the^een  is  willing  to  leave  all  the  country 
nortlTof  Bundalk,  that  is  to  say,  all  Ulster, 
in  the  hands  of  the  native  Irish— n^r  sheriff, 
nor  preacher  shall  be  sent  to  trouble  tliee.** 
But  all  would  -not  do ;  the  eight  Veeks  of 
the  truce  were  expired,  and  the  letter  found 
O'Neill  reviewing  two  divisions  of  his  army 
destined  to  besiege  Armagh  and  Portmore. 
*'  It  cannot  be,'*  was  his  brief  answer.  *'  My 
word  jpf  honor  is  plighted  to  the  confederate 
chiefs,  IJt  was  who  induced  them  to  take 
up  arms  for  God  and  our  country,  I  cannot, 
and  will  not  ask  them  to  lay  them  down; 
having  no  sort  of  confidence  in  these  specious 
professions,  the  dictates  of  English  policy. 
I  thank  thee,  Ormond,  but  I  cannot  do  as 
thou  wouldst  have  me." 

So  he  marched  on  at  the  head  of  his  troops, 
and  had  well  nigh  reached  Armagh,  when  a 
second  messenger  from  Ormond  was  shown 
into  his  presence,  and  forthwith  offered  him, 
on    bended    knee,   a  huge  sealed  ^cket. 

*' Why,  what  have  we  here  ?  V  said  ^  earl, 
with  surprise!  then,  having  examined  th^ 


'^i  '■' 


BID  HANl^  OF  UtStSR. 


ftn 


se^l,  he  speedily  recognised  the  royal  arms.  * 
*rOhl  oh  I  the  pardon^  as  I  am  a  living 
man  y|  he  gaily  exclaimed,  to  those  oiHcers 
who  'gathered  around  him ;  '^let  us  make 
merry  9Ver  our  good  luck ; "  and  he  laughed 
right  inerrily, 

"But  what  shall  I  say  to   my  lord   of. 
Ormond ;  will  your  lordship  favor  jgie  with 
some    letter    or    message  ?"» ii^uired    the 
ciourier  with  a  low  bow.  " 

"Say  to  the  lord  liieutenant,''  retumed 
O'Neill,  "that  the  Earl  of  Tyrone  haftno  time 
to  pen  an  answer,  being  on  his  way  to  attack 
Armaghy  This  is  sufficient  answer,  friend ; 
so  go  thy  way.'* 

Thus  haughtily  did  he  slight  the  "  special  - 
pardon-,"  which  he  well  knew  meant  nothing 
in  reality,  and  he  went  on  as  though  it  had 
nej^  been  accorded,  treating  with^pidn  and 
arousing  his  countrymen  to  a  more  martial 
spirit./-  ^- /;■■•■  -^;^ 

Up  to  this  time,  O'Neill  had  been  buoying 
himself  with  the  hopes  of  Spanish  succor, 
but  now  he  became  sadly  convinced  that 
the  malice  and  treachery  of  the  English 


m^ 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


goyemment  w^  at  work  even  there,  where 
|t  might  be  expected  to  have  least  influ^ncej 
for  he  received  positive  information  that  the 
paid  agents  of  Elizabeth  and  her  ministers^ 
were   going    about  in   secret    through   the 
Catholic  countries  of  Europe,  (Spain  more 
especially,)   representing  the   cause   of  the 
Irish  Catholics  as  without  even  the  slightest 
prospect    of   success,   and   even    inventing 
accounts  of  defeats  which  they  had  never 
sustained.     Deeming  it  useless,  then,  to  lie 
back  waiting  for  aid  which  might  never  come, 
he  set  vigorously  about  the  fohnatipn  of  a 
national   army,   which,  as  yet,  he   had  not 
called  tbgether.     To  this  step  he  was  the? 
more  imperatively  urged,  as  he  had  found 
out  that  a  powerful  army  had  bee^  placed 
under  the  command  of  his  did  adversary, 
Bagna!,  who  was  now  making  final  prepara- 
tions for  a  grand  attack.     To  do  them  justice, 
the  chieftains  of  Ulster  came  forward  on  this 
occasion,  at  the  call   of  their  reader>   in   a 
manner  the  most  creditable  to  their  courage 
and  patriotism  ;  and  it  may  ponsibly  interest 
the  reader  to  know  what  jihare  they  respec- 


4:-    J 


,J 


.^i^- 


RED  HAND   OF  ULSTER. 


«93 


tively  had    in    ma!!:ing    up    the    Northern 
.armyj.  ■    ' ;■' 

*'  Of  the  O'Neills,  we  find  that  Neal  Brian 
Fertough,    in   Upper    Claneboy,   f urnish^^ 
eighty     foot,     and     thirty     horse  j    Shane 
McBrian,  of  Lower  Glaiieboy,  sent  eighty 
foot  and  fifty  horse ;  McBory,  of  Kilwarlin, 
gave    sixty    foot    and    ten    horse ;    Shane 
iMcByran,  Carogh>  from  the  Bann  side,  fifty 
foot  and  ten  horse ;  Art.  O'Neill,  three  hun-^ 
dred  foot    and    sixty  horsey  Henry    Oge 
O'Neill,  two  hundred  foot  and  forty  horse ; 
Turlough  McHenr^  O'Neill,  of  the_  Fews, 
had  three  hundred  foot  and   sixty  horse  ; 
Corinac  McBawn,  (Hugh's  brother,)  three 
hundred  foot  and  sixty  horse  5    while  the 
earl  himself,  of  his  own  househqld  taroops, 
had  seven  hundred  foot  and  two  hundred 
horse.     Then  White's  country,  (Dufferin  in 
the  county   Down,)   "sent  twenty  footmen; 
MacArtane,  Sliaght  O'Neill,  also  of  Down, 
one  hundred  foot  and  twenty  horse ;  McGen- 
nis,  of  Iveagh,  brought  two  hundred  foot 
and  forty  horse ;  MacMurtough,  from  the 
Maine  water,  sent  forty  footmen ;  -O'Hagan, 


im 


KBD  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


^•■V 


of  TullDghoge,  seat  otie  hundred  foot  an4^ 
thirty  horse ;  Mc  T^onnell,  of  the  Glynns  of 
Antrim>  led  four  hundred  foot  and  one  hun- 
dred  horse ;    Maguire,  of  Fermanagh,  six 
hutidred  foot  and  one  hundred  horse ;  the 
MacMahons,  of  Monaghan,  contributed  five 
hundred  foot  with  one  hundred  and  sixty 
horse  ;  O'Eeilly,  of  Breffhi   O'Beilly,  eight 
hundred  foot  and  one  hundred  horse;  while 
O'Qahan,  from  the  banks  of  the  Bann  and 
Roe,  led  on  five  hundred  foot  and  two  hun- 
dred   horse.       All    these    chiefbdnd    were 
tributaries  of  O'Neill. 

"From  Tyrconnellj  Hugh  Roe  O'Donnellfj 
and  his  brother  Rory,  brought  three  hundred 
and  fifty  foot  and  one  hundred  and  ten  horse  ; 
O'Dogherty,  of  Innishowen,  led  three  hun- 
dred foot  and  forty  horse ;  MacSweeney,  five 
hundred  foot  and  thirty  horse ;  O'Boyle,  one 
hundred  foot  and  twenty  horse ;  and  O'Gal- 
lagher^  of  Ballyshannon,  two  hundred  foot 
and  forty  horse.     These  last  were  all  tribu- 


tary  to  O'Donnell.     These 
ions  were  led  on  by  Hugh  C 


two  great  Divis- 
'NeiU  and  Hugh 


O'DonaelV  who  seem  to  haye  been  of  equal 


^t^'Tf^V'^    ' 


BED  HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


^m 


rank  and  autWrity>  and  to  have  acted  inde- 
pendently of  each  other,  but  always  in  har- 
mony ;  their  only  contest  being  which  should 
pierce    deepest    into   the  columns  of   the 

Saxon."'*,  .    /.-■  "  ■■       ■    ■'-  ■ 

Availing  himself  df  this  welj-organized 

force,  O'Neill  made  a  stienuous  effort  totake 

Portmore.     Again  did  he    place   a  strong 

force  before  it,  and,  finding  the  garrison  still 

determined  to  hold  out,  he  also  came  to  a 

resolution  that   they    must   yield,'  if  even 

months  were  required  to  bring  about  that 

end.     Healso  laid  close  siege  to  Annagh, 

and  then  encampedj  with  the  remainder  of 

his  army,  at  a  place  called  Mullagh-bane. 

Here  he  was  attacked  by  Bagnal,  who  had 

beaten  in  all  the  outposts,  and  being  vastly 

inferior  in  numbers,  sustained  a  signal  defeat, 

the  first  he  had  yet  encountered.     But,  as 

thi«  catastrophe  was  entirely  owing  lo  the 

small  number  of  his  army,  detatched  and 

scattered  as  its  main  strength  was,  so  he  was 

but  little  disheartened,  and  liaving  hastily  sent 

off  messengers  to  O'DonnWl,  and  another 

•  MitdbeU'f  life  of  Hagh  0*NeiU,  pk  136, 137. 


BSD  HAND  QF  TJL8TSB. 


'■*■< 


powerful    ally,    McWilliam,  a   Connaught 
chief,  he  calmly  applied  himself  to  reorgan- 
ize the  force  under  his  command,  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  his  allies.     Gradually  he  moved 
iaround,  so  as  to  get  between  Armagh  and 
Portiiiore,.  having  information  that  Bagnal 
meant  to  relieve  the  garrison  at  the  latter 
place.     Finding  that  the  English  were  actu- 
M^ly  in  motion,  O'Neill  looked  eagerly  out 
for  his  friends,  as  without  them  he  could  not 
^vaofferedor  accepted  battle.     Great  was 
his  joy,  then,  when  his  scouts  brought  word 
that  they  were  within  a  mile  or  two,  and' 
soon  after  his  satisfaction  was  complete,  for 
O'Donnell  himself,  (a  hbst  in 'his  own  per- 
son,) dashed  ^p  at  the  head  of  his  chosen 
troops,  having  also  with  him  the  Connaught 
auxiliaries.     "Now,  then,  fiw:  Bagnal;  were 
he  twice  as  strong,   I  fear j him  hot!"  said 
O'Neill,  exultingly,  as  he  Wibraced  his  feith- 
iul  ally.     The  Irish  army  then  took  up  its 
position  about  a  mile  in  advance  of  Portmore, 
on  the  Way  to  Armagh,  wjiere  the  plain  was 
narrowed  to  a  pass,  enclosed  on  one  side  by 
a  thick  wood,  and  on  tlie  other  by  a  bog.    To 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 

arrive  at  that  plain  from  Armagh,  the  entmy 
would  have  to  penetrate   through   wooded 
hills,  divided  by  winding  and  marshy  hol- 
lows, in  which  flowed  a  sluggish  and  ois- 
colored  stream  from  tlije  bogs  :  and  hence  the 
pass  was  called  Deal*-anrathabuidhe,  *  thi 
mouth  of  the  yellow  ford.'*    The  place  was 
a  wild,  one,  but  it  was  admirably  chosei ,  as 
O'Neiirs    battle-grounds ,  ever    were,  and 
doubly  so,  as  this  very  spot  had  been  foretold, 
in  anciejit  prophecies,  as  the  scene  of  a  j  jreat 
battle^  in  which  the  Irish,  the  Catholics,  were 
to  be  victorious  iover  the  heretic  strapger. 
This   was,   in 'itself,   the    greatest  Jto^ble 
advantage  to  O'Neill.  j    I 

Brightly  rose  the  morning  sun,  oA  the 
tenth  of  August,  over  the  dark  greenwoods 
of  Tyr-owen,  and  its  rays  were  mirrored  like 
1  mimic  fires  in  the  transparent  waters  Jt)f  the 
quiet  \river.  Eyen  the  marshy  soil  m  the 
1  vicinity  of  the  Yellow  Ford,  was  lit  up  ii^to 
la  cheerful  hue  by  the  roseate  beams  frpm  tjie 
eastern  sky.  But  brighter  than  all  were  t^e 
gleaming  spears,  and  the  polished  corslets  of 
the  English  soldiery,  ^  they  niarched  aloD^g 


%9S 


»BD  HAND  OP  UL8TKR. 


the  road  from  Armagh,  flushed  with  the  all 
but  certainty  of  success.  Proudly  floated  the 
red-cross  banner  of  England  at  the  head  of 
each  division ;  and  the  air  was  filled  with  the 
triumphant  sound  of  their  martial  music. 
Bagnal  himself  had  never  looked  so  gay, 
for  even  his  dark  countenance  was  lit  up  with 
the  fire.of  expectation. 

"To-day,"  he  thought,  «  will  this  hated 
O'Neill  receive  such  a  blow  that  he  can  never 
^recover  himself.      Such  a  force  as  this  of 
mine  he  cannot  resis^;  and  who  knows,"  and 
a  fiendish  smile  glared  over  his  sallow  fea- 
tures, "who  knows  but  yonder  sun,  at  its 
setting,  may  look  upon  his  bloody  corpse  ; 
that  plodding  brain  may  be  at  rest  for  ever, 
and  my  most  dreaded  enemy  removed  from 
my  path."    And  his  step  grew  lighter,  and 
his  mien  still  more  haughty,  a^  these  thoughts 
passed  through  his  mind.^       \ 

Meanwhile  the  Irish  army  was  lying  quietly 

in  wait--morej[i^etiy-than  was  their  wont. 
Mass  had  been  said  at  the  dawn  of  d4y  by 
Father  McNamara,  m  the  presence  of  the 
whole  army,  and  the  example  of  their  chiefs 


-Ir^fe^'.  ■ 


/■ 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER*  W9 

had  aided  the  exhortation  of  the  good  priest, 
in  impressing  a  serious  feeling  on  the  mind  | 
of  eath.      They  were  made  tp  Understand 
that  the  cause  for  which  they  fought  was  that 
of  religion,  not  less  than  patriotism ;  and  that 
the  long-suffering  church  of  Irelat^  looked 
to   them,   that   day,  as  her  champions  and 
defenders.     It  was  an  affecting  sightto  sfee 
even  the  fiery  soul  of  O'Donnell  suhdued  to 
voman's  meekness,  as  he  knelt  befor^  that 
rustic  altar,  in  lowly  adoratidh;.    Near\him 
was  O'Neill— his  fine  face  no%  interseked 
by  the  lines  of  care  and  deep  thought.  Vet 
impressed,  for  the  time,  with  the  softcniVg 
influence  of  the  hallowed  scene,  into  a  lo 
of  rapt  devotion.      And  there,   too,  kne 
McDonnell,  the  proud,  fierce  leader  of  th 
Antrim  Scots,  with  many  another  chieftain, 
femed  in  Irish  story.     When  mass  was  ended, 
and  the  priest  had  pronounced  his  blessing, 
O^Neill  proceeded  dispose  of  his  troops  as 
his  good  jndgme^kud  military  skill  dictated. 
He  stationed  at  the  woods,  on  either  side  of 
the  Armagh  road,  a  force  of  five  hundred 
light-armed  Iceamsy  tod  then  fell  back  with 


V    .. 


3(H> 


RXD   HAND  OP  tJlSTER. 


•>> 


the  main  body,  to  a  little  distance.  ^  Silent  as 
death  they  awaited  the  approach  of  the  Eng- 
lish, who  marched  on,  never  dreaming  of  their 
danger,  till,  on  either  side,  was  poured  into 
their  ranks  a  death-dealing  volley,  that,  for  a 
little  whUe,UiiyM^  tjbem  into  surprise.     But 
I    the  coiifusidn  was  not  of  long  dufation,  for  it 
was  Bagnal's  own  division,  heaied  by  the 
marshal  in  per^^H;  and  very  soon  he  sue- 
ceeded  not  only^  in  restoring  order,  but,  hav- 
ing attacked  th6  Irish,  on  either  side,  his  men 
'fought  with  »t)  greali>,fury  and  desperation 
that  they  dislodged  O'Neill's  marksmen,  and 
finally  drove  them  back  from  their  position 
m  the  defile,  to  the  main  army,  on  the  plain 
beyond.     Then  it  was  that  B^i^al  moved 
forward  in  good  earnest,  seeing  that  the  Irish 
kept  their  ground,  and  made  no  preparations 
for  charging.    On,  then,  he  urged  his  legions ; 
but  just  as  the  foremost  came  within  V  short 
^stance  of  ^he  troops  of  Tyrone,  dow^  went 
a^ey-^orses  ^d  men,  into  pits  which  had^ 
been  hollowed  out,  and  carefully  covered  over 
%  O'NeiD's  dr^s.     But  the  confusion  wa^ 
only  moment^,  for  Bagnal  etiU  mged  on 


RED  HAND  OF  UISTRR. 


801 


his  cavalry,  who,  making  a  ^liort  circuit,  io 
as  to  avoid  trampling  over  their  comrades, 
made  a  rushing  charge  on  the  Irish  lines, 
where  they  stood  behind  their  entrenchments. 
So^e  of  these  latter  were  speedily  carried, 
ahjk^e  English  swept  on,  shouting  *'  Saint 
George  for  merry  England ! "     But  just  then 
a  jtnotion  Was  visible  in  the  Irish  centre,  and 
instantly  arose,  as  though  from  ten  thousand 
vbices,   the   wild,   fierce   cries    of    *' Lhav 
dhearg  aboo  !  "  "  O^Donnell  aboo  !  "  and  the 
clans,  whose  battle-cries  these  were,  rushed 
forth  against  the  advancing  English,  led  on 
by  their  respective  chiefs.     Terrible  was  the 
meeting.     Down  went  the  waving  plumes  of 
Bagnal,  to  rise  no  more,  and  over  his  body 
rushed  on  the  infuriate  avengers.     The  fall 
of  their  general  was  a  grievous  blow  to  the 
English,  and  in  a  few  minutes  that  4ivisi6», 
which  he  had  so  bravely  l/ed  to  the  charge, 
was  driven  back  in  irretrievable  confusion. 
Just  as  O'Neill  was  sweeping  forward,  at  the 
head  of  his  triumphant  clansmen,  who  should 
he  meet,  face  to  face,  clad  in  an  English  uni^ 
form,  and  brandishing  an  English  weapon. 


I 


>■ 


•  v. 

•  » 

I    ■ 


900  RID  HAND  Offudfii^ 

but  Miles  O'Reilly.     "1la  I "  cried  tiiX  latter, 
•'  we  have,  then,  metlt  length,  as  open  foes ; 
defend  thyself!  "  and  aiming  a  deadly  blow 
at  the  chieftain,  who  instantly  paused  before 
him,  he  seemed  under  the  demoniac  spijit  of 
jprenge,  to  forget  that  the  tide  of  battle  was 
"liiirrying  past.     O'Neill  warded  off  the  blow, 
biit  instead  of  returning  it,  he  would  have 
■poken  words  of  deprecation,   and  turned 
away  to  seek  some  other,  adversary ;  but  the 
unhappy  young  man  seemed  determined  to 
make  him  fight,  and  calling  out :  "  Ay,  then, 
gou  wouldst  sMjjt^ow,  thotf,  whii^e  suc- 
Rssful  ^^^<^^i7flBWP)B  me*lLit  I  am  — 

traitor  to  my  iffih  and  to  my  country by 

my  suffedngs  of  six  long  years  I  but  thou 
shalffight!"  and  again  he  would  have 
struck  him,  with  still  more  ferocious  deter- 
mination, when  some  of  O'Neill's  clansmen, 
rushing  between  them,  would  have  hewed 
down  the  assailant  of  their  chief  with  their 
tremendous  battle-axes,  but  his  voice  rose 
louder  even  than  the  din  of  battle,  command- 
ing them,  in  stem  and  authoritative  tones,  to 
desist ;  and  ere  yet  they  had  decided  to  obey" 


-^^^ 


•;* 


»• 


'■•■ '-'    ■  ■  ■■■■  .■•    ■    '    f  ■  ■ '  '■ 

BSD  SAVb  07  XTLSmM, 

even  him  in  such  a  conjunedon,  another 
more  rapid  charge  was  madb  by  OT)onnelIp 
and  his  fierce  gallow-glaases^  commanded  hf 
McSweeny,  and  with  them  rolled  on  the 
cavalry  of  Tyr-owen,  carrying  thefar  chiefs 
with  them,  not  against  his  will  either,  fat\ 
the  natural  goodness  of  his  heart  made  hioi 
■eek  toAun  a  mortal  contest  mXh.  0*Beillf •„ 

"  Bataillah-aboo !  **  shouted  the  fiery 
troopers  of  McSweeny,  as  they  burst  like 
lightning  on  the  foe  ;  and  their  terrible  war- 
ei:y  was  death  to  the  English,  lor,  as  that 
impetuous  torrent  broke  on  tibough  the 
opposing  legions,  down  went  in  succession 
the  vetcjran  bands  of  England.  "  By  this 
time,'*  says  Mitchel, /*the  cannon  were  all 
taken;  the  cries  of  'Saint  Geoif;e!'  had 
failed,  or  turned  into  death-shriiks ;  and 
once  more  England's  royal  standard  sunk 
before  the  Red  Hand"  of  Ty^-owen«?' 

G'NeHl  and  O'Reilly  met  no  more— 
•purred  on  by  his  evil  passi^s,  the  latter 
had  performed  strange  feats  of  valw: ;  more 
than  once,  in  the  course  of  that  bloody  day, 
did  he  find  himself  directly  in  front  of  the 


<^ 


I 


**%' 


*.^:^fs^4. 


^ 


,->y    ,^" 


^/ 


','  '  1' 


S04 


BED   HAND  OP  ULSTER. 


=di.- 


4     ^^ 


elansmen  of  Brefini,  arid  as  often  had  tl^ 
wretched  young  man  slunk  away  from  before 
the  venei^ble  form  of  his  uncle/  where  he 
fought  at  the  head  of  his  olan  ;  all  his  hardi- 
hood could  not  nerve  him  to  turn  his  arm 
ag;^8t  his  own  kinsfolk,  and  the  men  ofhis 
^tive  hills,  hut  not  the  less  resolute^  did  he 
seek  to  support  the  Ming  spirits  of  tHeEng- 
lish,  and  twice  did  he   succeed  in  lallying^ 
them  for  yet  another  stand.     O'Neill  V^tchedf 
him  with  pitying  interest,  as  his  tall,  corii- 
maridmg  form  flitted  from  rank  to  rank  of  the 
English,  a|»pearing  as  their  very  genius,  (for  ; 
most  of  their  higher  officers  had  sunk  dead 
or  wounded,  on  the  field,)  and  he  could  not 
help  regretting  that  so  m^ch  courage,  such 
chivalrous  valor,  was  so  wjrongfully  applied. 
But,  at  last,  he  missed  himr— his  plume  of 
crimson  hue  was  no  longer  to  be  seen;  and 
the  earl  was  just  looking  around,  over  all  the 
wide  desolation  of  the  scene,  when  he  came 
suddenly  upon  an  English  cavalier,  who  lay    . 
^ead  before  him,  rightin  his  path.     English!  ^ 
no,  riot  English,  although  in  Saxon  costume, 
for  the  cold,  pale  features  of  the  deact  were 


.'^i,, 


BED  HAND  OF  I7L8TEE. 


m 


m 


those  of  Miles  O'Reilly.  A  ball  had  pierced 
his  temple,  gone  right  through  the  brain,  and 
stilled  forever  the  impetuous  passions  which 
had  so  wildly  and  so  banefully  governed  hiin. 
It  was  with  no  pleasurable  feelings  that  the 
earl  drew  in  his  horse,  and  gazed  down  upon 
the  inanimate  face,  where  beauty  was  still 
imprinted,  as  on  the  chiselled  features  of  some 
^quisite  statue.  Nay,  a  tear  fell  from  the 
chieftain's  eye,  as  he  muttered,  ''Deacfdead ! 
is  it  then  so?  alas  !  and  is  this  the  untimely 
end  of  so  many  rare,  ev^  noble  qualities ; 
so  many  gifts  of  mind  a^d  person?^  0!  pas-, 
sion,  thou  terrible  enemy  of  the  Mman  race; 
this  is  thy  workl  "  He  had  not/yet  left  the 
spot  when  he  was  told  of  Bagnal4  death,  and 
his  generous  heart,  though  full /of  gratitude 
for  the  triumph  of  his  country's  cause^  could 
still  afford  to  pity  the  fate  of  tnose  two  men, 
who  had,  for  yea^s  long,  purs^ed  him  with 
unrelenting  animosity.  Soon  after  the  fall  of 
O'Reilly  the  English  were  coinpletely  routed ; 
all  that  escaped  fled  in  the  direction  of  ^ 
Armagh,  but  behind  were  the  avengers— the 
avengers  of  '^  ages  of  bondage  and  slaughter," 
~"  20 


itljp  HAND  OF  ULSTEE. 

of  wrong,  and  insult,  and  persecution ;  and 
by  the  time  they  reached  the  city  they  were 
only  fifteen  hundred.     The9e  MMjp  admitted 
withiii  the  walls,  and,  for  tK|[>^wnent,  were 
secure.    ■._:.".•  _^._:-:   .,.■;■  fll^  •:"      ■-■^^ 
While  yet  the  first  shout  of  triumph  was 
sweeping  over  the  Jand,  O'Neill,  with  his  con-^ 
quering  army,  sat  down  before  Armagh,  and 
so  disheartened  wi^re  its  defenders  that  their 
resistance  l^ted  but  a  very  few  days,  when 
theyj^^  u^  the  place.     Many  of  the  Irish 
chieftains  were  of  opinion  that  an  example 
^^  should  be  made' of  (at  least)  the  officers;  but 
O'Neill,  who  was  ever  opposed  to  unnecessaiy 
bloodshed,  easily  convinced  them  that  iit  would 
serve  no  good  purpose  to  slaughter  unresist- 
ing men;  and  the  whole  garrison  were  sent 
in  safety  Over  the  bordiers  of  the  Pale,  minus 
only  their  arms.      The  Castle  of  Portmore 
was  now  given  up  without  a  struggle,  and  its 
garrison  was  sent  off  at  the  same  time  with 
that  of  Armagh.      "Thus,"  says  Camden, 
"  Tyr-owen    tjiumphed    accordiiig    to     his 
heart's  content,  over:  all    his    adversaries.'* 
To  which  testimony  of  the  English  chronicler. 


:'^.'s»n,i.,^- 


"u- 


«S      »ED   HAND   OF   ULSTER, 


307 


_L.._i:^:._ 


Mitchell,  adds,  *<  All  Saxon  soldiery  vanished 
^speedily  from  the  fields  of  Ulster,  and  the 
Bloody  Hand  once  more  waved  over    the  • 
tow6rs  of  Newry  and  Armagh." 

From  this  time  forward  O'Neill  was  feveipy 
where,  throughout  the  island,  regarded  as  the^ 
national  leader  ;  his  genius  and  his  prowess 
were  the  pride  and  hope  of  all,  and  his  deeds 
were  the  theme  of  a  thousand  bards.     Jor 
long  after  the  decisive  battle  of  Beal-an-atha- 
buidhe  all  went  well  with  the  great  cause; 
all  Ulster  was  freed  from  foreign  thrall ;  and 
the  victorious  career  of  Red  Hugh  O'Don- 
nell    had    well  nigh  liberated    Connaught. 
Munster,  too,  and,  in  fact,  the  greater  part  of 
Ireland,  had  risen  on  behalf  of  freedom.    The 
queen,  in  alarm,  had  sent  over  her  favorite, 
Essex,  with  a  powerful  army,  hoping  to  quell 
the  rebellion,  which   had  now   attained   so 
formidable  a  height  |  but  the  history  of  hei? 
favorite's  luckless  career  in  Ireland  needs  not 
to  be  told.     In  fact  that  gallant  and  accom- 
plished, but  most  unfortunate  nobleman,  w:as 
no  match  for  the  keen,  sharp  wit  of  O'Neill, 
and   his   consummate    skill    in    dfninmnpv 

.............. ,y^ 


RED   HAND  OP   ULSTER. 


808 


After  wasting  months  and  months  in  idle  and 
objeetless  marchings  to  and  fro,  and  skir- 
mishes with  the  various  petty  chieftains  who 
bordered  his  way,  Essex,  at  length,  (having 
received  imperative  orders  to  march,  at  once, 
against  the  "  arch-traitor,  O'Neill,")  led  his 
forces  to  Bundalk,  where,  oh  the  appearancci 
of  the  Irish  army,  he  manifested  but  little 
desire    to    meet,  them   in  battle,   and  wil- 
lifagly  consented  to  a  parley,  which  O'Neill 
demanded.      The  truth  was,  that  the  wily 
chief  thoroughly    understood    the    shallow 
mind  and  superficial  character  of  Essex,  and 
well  knew  that  he  could  easily  overmatch 
him  in  negotiation,  at  a  much  cheaper  ratje 
than  trying  a  battle.     This  meeting,  (which 
fully    justified   O'.Neiirs    calculations,)   has 
been  much  celebrated,  as  in  it  the  courtly 
bearing  and  superior  ability  of  the  great  Irish 
leader  shone  out  to  peculiar  advantage.     It 
took  place  at  a  certain  ford,  named  Balla^ 
clinch ;  and  the  two  earls  riding  to  tM  oppo- 
site banks,  O'Neill,  ^ho  was  ever  exact  in 
the  observance  of  all  courtesy,  spurred  his 
horse  into  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  thence 


jzr: 


''iemm^i' 


iS 


RED   HAKD   OP   ULSTEiR. 


809 


discoursed  Essex,  who  remained  on  tSe  bank. 
This,  when   coupled  with   the   unchanging 
suavity  of  his  manners,  and  the  sympathy 
with  which  he   spoke   of  Devereaux's  own 
prospects  at  court,  so  won  upon  the  young 
courtier,  that  he  laid  open  to   O'Neill  the 
whole  budget  of  English  policy,  (in  so  far  as 
he  knew  it,)  jumbling  up  these  state  secrets 
j^with  his  own  private  affairs.     Some  officers 
of  distinction  were  theu  called  forward,  on 
either  side,  and  a  regular  parley  was  opened. 
O'Neill's  demands  were  still  the  same  as  On 
all  former  occasions ;  nor  did  Essex  consider 
them  unreasonable  of  unjust,  promising  to 
intercede  with  the  queen,  that  they  might  be 
taken  into  consideration.     A   truce   of  six 
weeks  was  then  agreed  lipon,  and  the  nego- 
tiating earls  took  a  kind  and  courteous  leave 
of  each  other. 

So  far  from  approviifg  of  Devereaux's 
negotiations,  the  queen  was  enraged  beyond 
measure  at  his  presuming  to  hold  a  parley 
with  O'Neill ;  rfnd  the  result  of  his  campaign- 
ing  was  doubly  grievous  to  her,  ^  Sir  Conyers 


/ 


Clifford,  a  general  of  tried  ability  and  great 


' 


310 


KED  HAND  OP,  ULSTER. 


experience,  had  been   slain,  and   his   army 
>  entirely  routed  in  the  rcJcent  battle  of  the 
Curlew  mountains,  by  Hugh  O'Donnell  and 
Im   Gonnaught  auxiliaries.      In  this  emer- 
gency, when  there  appeared  the  most  immi- 
nent danger  of  "the  Emerald  gem  "  being 
torn  from  her  crown,  Elizabeth  cast  about 
for  some  man  whose  abilities  equalled  his 
courage  and  devotion  to  her  cause,  on  whom 
she  might  rely  in  a  strait  so  hazardous.     At 
length   she   pitched   upon  .Charles   Blount, 
(Lord  Mouny oy,)  as!  being '  alone  likely  to 
compete  successfully  with  the  all-conquering 
O'Neill.     And  surely  it  was  the  evil  genius 
of  O'Neill  that  suggested  to  her  this  choice, 
for  Mountjoy  was.  but  a  short  time  in  Ireland 
when  it  becaime  evident  to  O'Neill  that  he 
had  now  a  dangerous  opponent.     From  that 
day  his  star  was  on  the  wane,  and  not  all  the 
efforts  of  his  .powerful  mind  •    not  all  his. 
consummate  skill  and  prudence ;  hot  all  his 
chivalrous  and  unfailing  courage,  could  avert 
the  doom  that  fell  upon  the  cause.     What, 
though  Philip  of  Spain  sent,  at  lengthy  that 
sttccorthatyears  before  he  should  have  sent— 


-%■' 


i'W. 


RED   HAND   OF   UI^TER. 


$11 


h*-^ 


r 


./• 


coming  now  all  too  late ;  convinced  that  with 
even  moderate  assistance  from  abroad  the 
Irish  Catholics,  under  their  great  leader, 
might  have  cast  off  the  yoke  that  weighed 
them  down.  Alas !  their  coming  did  nought 
tb  serve  the  northern  chieftains,  for  their 
leader  acted  imprudently,  some  say,  treacher- 
ously, and  suffered  himself  to  be  shut  up, 
with  his  men,  in  Kinsale.     After  a  long  and 

toilsome  ri^arch  O'Neill,  and  O'Bonnell,  with 

\      .      ■  ■    ■  ■ 

some  otheiK^  chiefs,  succeeded  in  reaching 
Kinsale,  but  it  was  only  to  encounter  a 
decisive  defeai;  and  there  might  be  said  to 
end  the  long-protracted  struggles  of  O'Neill. 
Nay,  even  theVsanguine  and  ever-hopeful 
spirit  of  O'Donnell  was  broken  by  that 
•  crowning  disasteri;  and  leaving  the  now 
shattered  troops  of  Tyrconnell  under  the 
command  of  his  brdther,  Roderick,  he  took  a 
hasty  but  aiFectionaie  leave  of  O'^S  eUl,  and 
crossed  over  to  Spain,  determined  to  make  a 
vigorous  effort  to  obtiiia  efficient  aid.     - 

It  were  sad  to  tell  how  O'Neill  led  his 
broken  and  dispirited  army  back  toUYie  north 
in  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  y;ear^ 


.  .-^'y 


/^' 


zn 


HED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


(the  Spaniards,  having  capitulated,  were 
suffered  to  return  to  their  own  country;) 
how,  one-bjf-ene^is  allies  were  subdued,  or 
gave  up  the  contest  in  despair,  until  there 
remaj|Led,  out  of  Ulster,  but  the  ever-faithful 
Tyrrell  and  O'Sullivan  Beare,  who  still 
ventured  to  hold  out.  Tyrrell,  indeed^  still 
held  the  greater  part  of  Meath ;  and  it  is 
even  said  that  he  kept  Mountjoy  a  whole 
winter  engaged.  But  O'Sullivati  haijvonly  -- 
Jiiis  own  strong  fortress  of  Dun-buidhe/i|Fhich> 
for  its  position  on  Bantry  Bay,  was  considered 
of  great  importance.  This  castle  was  taken 
after  a  long  and  determined  siege,  and  Tyrrell  * 
alone  was  in  the ,  field  for  Ireland  and 
G'Neill.  ;  In  Ulster,  the  chieftain  himself 
did  all  that  man  could  do  to  avert  the 
threatened  ruin  to  the  cause.  Yet  was  he* 
now  beginnijig  to  sink  under  the  weight 
of  care,  and  sorrow,  and  disappointment. 
Age,  too,  was  advancing  with  rapid  iJtrides> 
its  approach  accelerated  by  the  sorrows  of  the 
last  years.  Even  in  his  private  life  the  hand 
of  afflictkn  had  pressed  heavily  upon  him, 
for  he  had  seen  that   beloved  one.  with 


--■':      V 


■BXD  HAND  OP  XJLSTEB. 


81S 


difficulty  won,  but  ever  faitliful  and  fondly 
qherished— he  had  seen  his  Arabella  |aid  in 
an  untimely  grave,  and  several  of  hir  chil- 
dren  had  in  succession  followed.      Withm 
the  last  few  years  he  had  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Magennis-^that  same  Catherina  who 
in  the  summer  of  her  youth,  he  had  so  much 
admired.     She  had  remained  for  many  long 
years  unmarried,  retaininglever  a  too  vmd 
Iremembrance  of  him  to  give  her  hand  or 
heart  to  another ;  and  when  time  had  some- 
what blunted  his  poignant  grief  for  Arabella^ 
loss,  he  was  not  sorryto  secure  the  alliance 
of  the  chieftaifi  of  Iveagh,  (it  was  now  her 
brother,  for  the  father  had  been  some  i 
dead,)  to  the  still  lovely  though  faded  Qathe- 
rina,  an  offer  which  was  by>er  acceptod  with, 
melancholy  pleasure.     She  was  mau^  years 
younger  than  the  earl,  but  her  loVe  being 
founded,  from  an  early  period,  on  the  great 
qualities  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable, 
-  had  in  it  but  Uttle  of  the  leaven  of  passion, 
and  she  Was  well  prepared  to  smooth  the 
pillow  of  his  declining  years,  and  nunister  to 

■"'•,;'his.  comfort.  .".;.•.  ;;..  ■,■/■;•:'■■- 


?14  RED   HAND   OF  »l|tBTER, 

Dark  was  the  doom  thaf^  fell  upon  Tyr- 
owen  and  all  Ulster  when**b*-Neiirs  wand  of 
power  was   broken — for   utterly   broken   it 
waS/when  English  bribery  and  treachery  had 
'rent  asunder  t^^,  mighty  confederacy,  *the 
creation  of  his  gfeinjs,  which,  at  one  time, 
gave   Ul  but    a  c^tainty   of  final   success. 
Defeat  after  defeat  came  upon  him ;  the  war 
was  carried  into  the  very  heart  „of  his  countiy, 
that  not  alone  by  the  English,  but  by  more 
than  one  traitorous  Irishman.     All  ^iround 
his  borders  there  were  raised  up  enemies  in 
those  who  should  have  been  steadfast  friends. 
Thus  he  had  on  one  side  a  Queen*s  Maguire, 
^n  another  a  Queen's  O'Reilly,  on  another  a 
Queen's  O'Dohnell, — all  of  these  shameless 
traitors  being  raised  up  bjr  English  policy  to 
oppose  at  once  their  own  Hghtful  chieftains, 
and  the  dreaded  power  of  Tyrone.     English 
armies  poured  in  on  every  4de,  and  broke  in 
revengeful    fury    over    the    territories    of 
O'Neill,  and  all  who  still  re?riained  faithful 
to  him,  until  the   fair  fields   of  Tyr-owen, 
and,  in  fact,  the  greater  part  of  Ulster,  so 
lately:  teemin|^  with  fertility,  and  covered 


«P!»s^#i^^^5t, »,  75"^*"f  "^  ■' 


■y- 


RED  HAND  O^  ULSTER. 


815 


with  numerous  flocTcs,  were  made,  (as  the 
vallica  of  Desmond  had  before  been,)  "a 
/iou^/in^  wildernesjir     Famine   stalked  over 
tho  land,  folkwed  by  her  grim  hand^iden, 
Jb^stilence,  and  soon  the  haughty  spinV  of  tke 
brave*  clansmen  was  crushed  beneath  these 
accumulated   horrors.      The   picture?  drawn 
for  us  by  Irish  historians,  (and  even  some 
English,)  of  the  dreadful  sufferings  of  the 
northern  clans,  during  the  days  that  preceded 
O'Neiirs    submission,   is    too    painful,   too 
gloomy  in  its  coloring  to  be  transfeired  to 
mv  pages  even  did  space  permit.     I  shall, 
thLefbre,  pass  it  over  with  the  brief  notice- 
already  made.     But  who  can  ^f^;^^; 
imagine,  the   anguish  with  which- QNeill 
looked  upon  those  scenes;     How  must  he 
have  felt,  on  witnessing  the  deplorable  con- 
edition  of  those,  whose  only  crime  ^asjtheir  ; 
fidelity  to  him,  their  country,  and  theu  God  ( 
Bowed  down  at  once  by  the  weight  of  their 
misery  and  his  own  sorrows;  he  came  to  the 
resolution  of    purchasing   peace  for  them, 
(since   it  was   all  he   could  now  do,V  by 
submitting  to  that  power,  against  which  he 


i/ 


816 


B£I>  HAND  OF   UL8TEB. 


■  I. 


had  80  long  atruggled.  Having  acquainted 
the  deputy,  by  letter,  with  his  intention,  the 
proposal  was  eagerly,  not  to  say  willingly, 
accepted,  and  Drogheda  was  appointed  for 
•the  place  of  meeting. 

This  resolution  had  only  been  taken,  when^ 
the   news   reached    O'Neill    that   his   most 
faithful  ally,  and  the  truest  son  of  Ireland, 
Hugh  O'Donnell,  had  died  in  Spain,  of  a 
fever,  brought  on  by  grief  and  disappointment 
on  finding  that  there  was  no  hopeif  obfaun- 
ing  aid.     «  He  is  dead  then,'*  said  D'Nbill, 
with  a  sigh  that  convulsed  his  very  heart ; 
"even  his  high,  hopeful  heart  was  at  length 
crushed  and  broken.     Thus  have  perished 
many,  many  of  those  who  struggled  the  most 
manfully  for  our  common    right* ;    many 
Others  have  given  up  our  cause  in  despair ; 
while   others,   still,   have   sold    it   for  vile 
lucre^;    what  have  I  then  to  do,  old  and 
broken-spirited  as  I  am,  but  to  procure  ^ 
modicum  of  peace  for  my  poor  people  as  I 
best   can?^'      And  forth  he   went   on   hii 
humiliating  errand.  ■  '■    '■.  -  :;       /.     ^ 


''I 


RID  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


an 


^  CHAPTER  X. 

■•  v'. 

My  heart  to  la  wo»,,;. 
And  my  muI  »•  bntooWi  ] 

For  the  mighty  aro  low, 
And  ttboaed  are  the  nOble. 


> !  v»: 


ih««oii»ofUi«a^i 

Worn,  w»»»J  "**  !*'•• 
A>  ipenl  pllnriroi  nsfurolnl.  _, "  _        ' 

fiiB  place  of  meeting  had  been  finally 
-fixed  on  as  Millifont  Abbey,   about    four 
miles  from  Drogheda.     This  noble  monastic  . 
institution,  one  of  the  most  magmffient  in 
the    British    Wands,  was  then  in  all   its 
.  original  splendor,  at  least  ^  outward  appear- 
ance ;  but.  alas !  it  was  no  longer  the  abode 
of  religious  peace  and  calm  contemplation, 
having  been,  at  the  suppression  .of  monas- 
teries,   bestowed    on    the    Moore    fitmily. 
(ancestors  of  the  Marquis  of  Dtogheda.)  and 
at  the  time  of  O'Neill's  memorable  yisit  it 
was  a  favorite  residence  of  theirs.     Dese- 
crated and  defiled,  the  sacred  walls  and  the 
loTely  gl'^T.  were  now  made  to  echo  only  the 
noisy  glee  of  revelry ;  for  its  proprietor,  being 


f 


il 


i 


,1/ 


/      I 


%-% 


^ 


318 


R?D  'HANP   OF   UliSTEB. 


6 


himself  a  soldier,  made  it  (^  point  to  gather 
araun^  him  a  crowd  of  military  guests.  The 
.beautiful  Ghapel  of  St.  Bernard  was  con- 
verted into  ;a  banqueting-ropm;  and  the 
statues  of  the  twejve  Apostles,  which  had 
^rewhile  graced  the  walls,  were  brought  to 
SJr  Edward's  hall,  and  clothed  in  derision  as 
British  soldierSi  each  with  a  musket  oyer  his 
lulder,  ■''■'  .">  ' ;.    ../  ; ;    \  '■■ 

inch  being  the  condition  of  the  monasteiy, 
what  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  O'Neill 
as,  followed  by  a  few  of  his'  faithful  clans- 
men, he  wound  his  way  through  that  lovely 
vale  to  the  abbey,  on  a  wild  day  6f  March? 
What  must  he  have  felt ;  he  who  had  so 
long  struggled  for  the  rights  of  the  church ; 
he  who  had  so  carefully  protected  the  asy- 
lums of  religion  from  the  ruthless  grasp  of 
the  defikr  ?     But  i^pies  were  all  around  him, 
and  he  dared  not  even  breathe  a  word  of  his 
feelings    to^  those    who    were    with    him. 
Dashing  away,  then,  the  unbidden  tear,  he 
quickened  his  footsteps,  and  presented  him- 
iself  before    the   deputy,   whom  he  foimd 
awaiting  him  at  the    gate  of   the   abbey. 


.\ 


*•*»-" 


BED   HAND  OF  ULSTBB. 


aiu 


ItowiBvei?  humbled  and   depressed   O'Neill 

felt  himself,  yet  his  power  had  not  so  entirely 
•departed' but  that  the  government  deemed  it . 

stili   necessary   to  treat   him  with  respect, 
_:  viewing  him  rather,_p5(B  ^ay  suppose,  as  a 

lion  cbuchant,yrho  might  easily  be  aroused 

into  dangerous  action. 

Sixty   years    had   left    their  furrow  on 

O'Neill's  brow  and  silvered  his  dark, locks. 
Sorrows,  many  and  complicated,  had  dimmed 
the  lustre  of  his  eye,  and  made  his  cheek 
pale   and  hollow,   yet    his   form  was  still 
erect ;  and  when  he  stood  before  the  concLuer- 
ing  deputy,  in  the  Abbey  of  Mellifont,  he 
demeaned  himself  with  as  much  dignity  as 
though  misfortune   had   never    chilled  his 
heart.  VThat  piercing  glance,  for  which  he 
had    b^en^;  remarkable,   was  still  his;  and 
thoughW  heart  and  soul  he  felt  himself 
humblei— humbled  for  himself  and  for  his 
country,   yet  he   sedulously  concealed  the 
feeling,    and    returned    the    salutation    of 
Mountjoyas  though  he  were  still  a-victor. 
Yet  his  costume  was  void  of  all  military 
pretensions,  he   being'  simply. clad  in  the 


'W'-. 


ni(y 


RED  HAKI>  OF  ULSTER. 


of  th 


dress  worn  by  Irish  »oWemen  of  tjdat  day,  in  ^ 
times  of  p^ace.  ; 

Mountjoy  was  a  tall,  stately  man,  in  the 
prime  of  life,  yet  he  bowed  to  the  grey-haired 
chieftain  with  an  air  of  respect,  while 
advancing  a  step  beyond  the  door  to  meet 
him,  he  said,  "  Qft  have  we  met  in  hostile 
guise.  I  trust,  my  lord  earl,  that  we  meet 
now  as  friends  ?  " 

"Oh,  assuredly!"  replied  O'Neill,  with 
that  courtesy  which  never;  forsook  him,  yet 
in  a  tone  wherein  a  keen  observer  might 
recognize  more  thali  a  little  bitterness. 
"The  queen's  deputy  is,  of  right,  the  friend 
of  O'NeiU.  But  the  air  of  these  halls,"  and 
he  looked  around  with  a  kind  of  shudder 
that  spoke  his  inward  emotion,  "  the  air  here 
is  cold  and  damp,  and  it  doth  chill  the 
marrow  in  these  aged  bones.  Let  us,  an*  it 
please  your^  lordship,  proceed  at  once  with 
our  business.'* 

" Nay,  my  good  lord,"  said  Mountjoy^  "I 
meant  not  to  detain  thee  in  such  a  spot  as 
this,  nor  requires  our  affairs. so  much  ha^te ; 
let  us  enter ;  here  is  the  host,  Sir  Edward 


RED   HAND   OP   ULSTER. 


sn 


Moore."  That  gentleman  bowed  profoundly. 
*^  He  will  be  happy  and  proud  to  entertain 
so  distinguished  a  guest.'* 

sir  Edward  declared  that  he  would  con- 
sider himself  highly  honored  by  having  the 
Earl  of  Tyrone  abide  even  for  a  shbrt  time 
under  his  roof,  but  O'Neill  shook  his  head. 

"  Thihiks  for  your  courteous  invitation,'* 
he  said,  "but  I  came  hitherto perfortn  an  act 
which  requires  so  great  an  effort  as  to  unfit 
me  for  social  converse.  My  lord  Mountjoy, 
I  came  hither  to  acknowledge  myself  the 
queen's  dutiful  subject ;  but  why  equivocate  ? 
I  came  to  tender  py  submission  to  her 
-majesty ;  art  thou  prepared  to  receive  it,  as 
her  representative  ?'* 

Slountjoy  bowed  a  silent  affirmative ;  and 
Sir  Edward  having  thrown  open  a  side  door, 
the  whole  companj^  entered  a  large  apartment 
pn  the  ground  il66r.>c  • 

"I  opine,!*   said  th^  earl,   "that  it  will 
flftffice  for  me  to  offer  my  submission  before 
.this  goodly  company.     That  is  all  that  is 
necessary— ^at  least  I  think  so." 

Mountjoy,  as  though  unwilling  to  answer 


i 


,1 


i 


'•■ . 


n. 


B22 


RED   HAN1>  OF   ULSTEI^ 


the  question,  took  from  a  page  a  letter "  of 
instruction,  lately  received  on  this  subject, 
ip  which  the  queen  herself  prescribed  the 
conditions  and  details  of  this  important  cere^ 
ipbny.  The  deputy  proceeded  to  read  aloud 
what  was  there  laid  dowii.  In  the  first 
place,  the  chieftain  was-  to  make  a  formal 
submission  on  his  knees  (!)  in  presence  of  ii 
certain  number  of  witnesses,  and  to  give  in 
his  consent,  to  receive  English  law  and 
civilization  into  his  territories.  '  Tyrone  was 
henceforward  to  be  "  shireground "  as  a 
quiet,  respectable  county.  Its  proprietor 
was  at  ouce  and  for  ever  to  giv6  up  his 
hereditary  title  of  the  0*Neitl^  and  to  eschew 
in  toto  the  barbai'ous "customs  of  " Irishry.*' 
•;  A  ghastly  paleness  overspread  O'NeiU's 
face  as  he  listened,  and  a  deep  sigh  escaped 
him,' albeit  that  he  kept  his  lips  firmly  com- 
pressed together,  so  as  to  smother  all  undue 
emotion..  "  Antl  what '  am  I  to  receiye-^or 
rather  my  people— -in  return  fca:  all  this?  " 
he  asked  in  a. subdued  tone.  "  l  ^,  ;'' 
"»  "In returft,'*  went  on  Mountjoy,  "thou, 
Hugh  ©Weill,  are  to  retain  the  title  of  Earl  of 


ft'] 


i 


BED   HAND   OF   ULSTER. 


8^a 


of 

BCt, 

the 

5re- 

)ud 

■•  -V 

irst 

nal 

in 

ind 

WSLS 

a 

!tor 

his 

Lew 

U's 

f 

3ed 

>m-' 

-f 

lue 

'  ,"  * 

■fOX 

i 

?"> 

-^ 

^ 

3U, 

1 

to|. 

« , 

^    .     ■     • 

■  «,    ." 

Tyrone,  togiether  with  all  the  lands  erewhile  " 
bestowed  upon  thee  by   .the   royal  bounty. 
Thou  art  to  have  a  free  and  full  pardon  ibr/' 
past  offences,  and  permission  to  live  in  any 
of  thy  castleSi  wheresoever  thou  dost  thinly 

^}r'''  ■':''■':■-'■■■'  '■'i'-'':  ''v,,".  ':.'-•%': 

f*  Yes,  yes,'*,  said  the  earl,  with  an  impa^ 
tience  that  could  scarce  be  repressed, ."  but  , 
what  of  .my  people  ;  the  fate' of  an  old  man 
like  me  is  not  of  much  mbriieiit ;  but  what 
guerdon  are  they  to  have?  is  our  religion 
to  be  free  or  tramelled  with  bonds  ?  for,  if 
the  latter,  I  will  never  consent." 

"Thou  and  thy  people— -the  whole  pro- 
vince-^will  be  left  to  pray  as  ye  list,  and 
practice  whatsoever  mummeries  yls  may," 
rejoined  Mountjoy,  snappishly,  for  it  pleased 
him  not  that  so  much  had  been  accorded  to. 

■O'Neill.;  ■.■:-:V--:>-^  T/'^:\- 1 '■■';'■■' "'■■■" 

'    "ThM  I  submit,"   said  Tyrone  at  once. 
"If  we  are  to  ,have  our  cherished  faith  in 
freedom^  we  canuot  be  utterly  miserable  ;  it  ' 
will  console  us ;  atid  as  that  freedpwwa'^  one 
of  the  greatest  objects .  of  my-— of  our  ambir 


11 


8U 


BBP   HAND.  OF   DfLSTEB, 


:V'  • 


\y 


'  .  ■ '  ■■■  •■  ■ "  ■ 

■    But  it  required,  strength  from  above  to 
enable  him— the  victor  of  so  many  fields^ 
the  dictator  of  a  .wbole   nation— to   kneel 
before  »  fellow-man,  having  no  other  author-' 
ity  th>n  that  deputed  him  by  the  queen  of 
.England.    Turning  away,  the.n,  he  walked  to 
a  wmdow,  whece  he  regained  a  few  minutes, 
with  head  bent  down  in  evident  supplication. 
We  a  dead  silence  reigned  in  the  room. 
When    the.  earl     once     more    approached 
Mountjoy,  his  face  was  composed,  though 
pale  as  death,  and  .he:was  heard  to  murmur,- 
"My   God,  accept  this  sacrifice!   it  is  for ' 
my  people- "  and  wWiOut  raising  his  eyes 

fronttheground,he6ent  one  knee  before 
the  deputy,  at  the  same  time  presenting  to 
^  him  the  hilt  of  his  swcrrd,  un'bu'cfcled  tfor  the 
Purpose,  He  yould  have  repeated  the 
words  of  submission,  lut  this  Mountjoy  had 
the -^grace  to  spare  him,  and  extending  his 
hand,  he  said  J       ■  . 

£::?^"'«;'™y  l°*-d  of  ^yrMie!  itls  eWbuih  " 
,V«Eno«gh,"  'itepeated,  the    eari;   slowlv^ 
We  many^deep  sob  was  heard  from  W 
afflicted    followers.      «Ay;  it   is  enough  j 
methmks  even  the  queen  ^an  aak  bo  mora. 


'•iA 


■)■■ 


« 


RED   IIAND   OF   ULSTER. 


And  now,. my  lofd, 
qrave  perrnission  tp 


i^ 


as  this  matter  is  endedl  t 
withdraw."    '   '    ^ 
On  lea\ing^eaUfont,  the^arl  returned  tb 
his   home,  where   he   hoped  t#  be   left  in 
peace,  now  that  he  had  forsworn  war.     But 
such    was  liot   the    purpose    of  the   higher 
powers,  for  very  soon  after,   he  was  sum- 
moned.  t6   accpmpahy   Lord    Moun'tjoy    to 
Ldndon/ as  was  also   Roderick' O'Donnell, 
the.pre6efit  head  of  his  sept.     The  i^ueen,  it 
appea/ed,  wo^d  not  be  satisfied. that  these 
two^reat  lords  had  ^indeed  submitted  to  her 
authority,   unless  she  ■heard  the  con fession 
£r6m  their  own  lips.     So  O'Neill  and  O'Don- 
lell  were  carried  in  a  sort  of  triumph  to 
-.ondoii,   attached,  *  as  it  were,  to   the  tri- 
uriiphal  car  of  Mountjoy  j  and  so' delighted 
"Was  the  queeni  to  receive  their  homage,  that 
even  in.  the  palmiestidays  of  his  court^favor. 
she Juad  never  lavishedtnore  abuntlant  kind- 
ness on  O'Neill,  whilef  on  O'Dorniell*  she 
fetowed  the  pompous  title  o^  Earl  yf  T^W 
cqnnell.  .  (How  contemptuously  Woiild  his 
-brother  Hugh  have  rejected^  such  a  title !) 
:Jn  thia  yi^        the;  prolans  on  both  sidep 


■"■•«•■ 


S2e 


BED  ftAND  OF  Ut'STER. 


■\  ." 


^ere  Ratified,  and  the  two  earl^  returned  to 
Ireland,  as  the  acknowledged  vassals,  it  is 
true,  of  Elizabetji- Tudor,  ^bu^  in  the  ht^pe 
that  they  had  at  least  securfed  religious 
liberty  for  themselves,  and  those  T»^ho  looked  . 
up  to  them  for  protection.      ^  ^v  ' 

.    .But    alas!    the    princely   possesions    of 
O  NeUl  and  O'Ponnell  could  not  possibly  be 
left  m  the  hands  of  "Popish  traitors,"  aiM 
though  there  is  not  the^shadow  of  proof  that 
either  one  or  the  other^ntertained  the  sljght^  '; 
est  idea  of  having  recourse  again  to  arms,  yet 
It  suite4  the  rapacious  government  to  lay  siich 
designs   to   their  charge,   and  a    plot  was 
speedily  concocted,  after  the  f^shjon  of  the 
Meal-Tub  plot,-^the  Titus  Gates  of  this  o^e 
i>ei%  a  certain   St.  Xaw5:ehce,  of  accteed 
memoiy.     The  plot  was  a  s^ec^oiis  one,  and 

well  devised ;  and  beingr  laid  to  the  especial    " 
,  tshargebf  Tyroneand^l^^  • 

men  were  summoned  before  the  councifc '  It 
was  feared,  however,  by  those  who  coveted  - 
l^eir  domains,  that  in  the  event  of  a  trial  : 
«i0ir  innocence  might  be  established  j  sothoy 
■'^  both  1^^  letters. 


"""^^ 


^^■ 


■i: 


oA\.' 


RED  tIANP  OF   ULSTER. 


827 


V 


froiKL  pretended  fri^tids,  not  to  appear  before 
the  counQil;  and  _  l^oKih  having  a  wholesome 
fear  of  British  justice^^  (as  administered  to 
JVIcMahon,)  before  their  eyes,  they  came  to 
the  resolution  of  effecting  their  escape  from 
that  hapless  4and;  where  spies  and  traitors 
haunted  their  every  step,  and  where  thei 
patrimonial'  inl^eritance  laid  them  evhr  open, 
to  the  wiles  of  cupidity  and  avarice.  >There 
was  i^othing  for  them  but  flight;  and  hkstily 
gathering  together  their  nearest  and  most 
beloved  relativef ,  they  hastefted  on  boara  a 
foreign  ship,  then  anchored  in  Lough  Swill 
sought  a^^refuge  on  the  continent 
Maguire,  of  Fermanagh,  (with  some  of  hii 
connections,)  was  also  of  the  party;  he,  too,^ 
being  an  object  of  suspicion ;  Ive,  should 
iJith^  say  that  the  noble  country,  ^' along 
Xqugh  Ertie  shore,"  (ajs  the  old  song  has  it,) 
was  i(n  object  of  desire  to  the  greedy 
adyenturers,  who  thirsted  for  estates  in  tlie 
fair  province  which  h^id  been  to  them  for  so 
many  years  a  land  of  promise.  Alas !  Wluit 
a  sight  was  that  for  the  faithful  clansmen. 


thus  of  necessity  deserted  by  their  chieftains ; 


U/ 


828 


V 


«B1)  HAND  OP   PtSTJ 


Wdwell  m-Tght  Ireland.  throuKhU  all  \, 
extent,  bewail  that  fatal'  hour  Ti     "  ^ 
^"  Bay  the  Four  Mastera.  in  their  aIm 

-^    the      -T:"  ""'  ""^  **"  »««•>  not  tne  and 
the  wind  hath  not  wafted,  in  modln  , ' 
A  numlur  »^  ''"  """"Ota  times, 

»  number  of  persons  more  eminent  \;ii    .' 
ou«>ornoWe  in  noint  J  '"""f"'. '"ustn- 

deeds,    valor     tIT    f  ^"°'''^°^  heroic 
,     vaior,    teats    of    arms,  andl  bravA 

•eh,evements.  than  they.     Won  d   tU  G„H 
M  but  pennitted  them  to  rem!  tl? 

-^tnmonia,  inheritance,  untinr^^^fc 
-houldarnveattheage  of  manhood  I  '  ^!! 

fcuwr,  lives,  b€^  able  to  return  m  fk^- 
,~^n„<J.,ities  and  patrini 

^^_   What  we  know  of  the  subsequent  life  of 
this  great  chieftain  is  bevon,!  w 
choly.     Not  he  tel^""" ""*'"»- 

^«i.galik.the^„^^.^^^- 
-^  V    ^^  and  the  ^orld  which  i^^ . 


r./ 


"T^^"^- 


•>%•• 


RED   HAND   Olr   ULSTER. 


S29 


■/''■' 


had  found  so  full  of  misery  for  many  a  W 
year  past.     No,  O'Neiirs*  love  for  Ireland 
was  to  end  only  with  his  life  ;>nd  we  find 
him,  for  the  few  years  that^  he  yet  spent  on 
earth,  wandering  about  from  court  to  court,  . 
beseeching  and  imploring  the  Catholic  princes 
of  Europe  to  do  something  for  his  suffering , 
country.     Alas !  he  was  6 very  whera  received 
with  the  respect,  nay,  veneration,  due  to  ,his 
illustrious   birth   and   high   reputation,   but 
nowhexe  could  he  obtain  any  efficjipnt  aid--all 
fearing  to  risk  so  large  a  force  as  the  li^er- 
taking  would  reqirir^  in  a  cause  sa  precarious. 
Now  It  M^as  before  the  Majest^  of  %in  that 
the   old  in^\bowed;i)utBtill  with  that 
dignity,  that  princely  mien,  which  was  his^o 
vthe  last,  pleading  the  cause  of  Ireland— the ' 
<»uw^  a  kindred  na^n  long  suff^niig  and 
nev^  entirely  subdued.     Then  it  was  at  the 
footstool  of  the  tapil  throne,  beseeching  the 
-^olyFatherto  have  pity  on  his  persecuted 
rchildren^^^  him,  with  ' 

glowing  fervor,  of  their  unchanging  devotion, 
their  unalterable  adherence  to  the  chair  6^    • 
Peter,  wid  describing,  with  an  ^mestness 


^^?r^^r 


;.    \ 


•/•. 


S30 


Bjro   RAND   OP  BLSTBR; 


that  .hbwed  the  inteijsity  of  his  feeling.,  the 
cruel  tormento  inflifcted  by  the  English 
reformers  on  the  faithful  children  of  the 


^^hurch    m  that    unhappT^ountryTr^na^ 
^    iTl      T"^  "'*  "  ^"^^•'""K  %  """l  eyes 

the  Insh  Catholics  with  an  affection  corres- 

P<>«>dmgto«heirdeyotedness;  and  his  paternal 
heart  yearned  oyer  their  unmerited  and  lon». 
protracted  .ufferings.     Pain  would  he  have 
done  as  hi.  wishes  dictated,  but  from  his 
small  territories  he  could  not  possibly  spare 
a  number  of  men  sufficient  to  render  any 
signal  «ryi6e.«  Only  let  PhiHp  „f  gpain 
•end  ««ne  ten  thousand  men,"  he  said,  "and 
*e  will,  with  God's  assistance,  and  with' 
*earty  good  will,  contribute  our  full  quota.    - 
But  thou  knowest,  our  dear  son,  that  what 
we  could  afford  to  giye  from  our  poor  states 
wou^d  be  of  no  manner  of  use  against  the 
migh^  power  of  the  Philistines,  who  hold 
f^  deyotedishmd  in  thraU.     They  would 
te  at  once  captured,  or  perchance   cut   to 
fto^,   which  would  grieye  our    j^-tm^ 


nam,  and  give  iu  cause  to  reproach  ourwlve*. 


,    -^ 


BED  HAND  OF  ULSTER. 


831 


>. 


\- 


May  God  stir  up  the  heart  of  our  royal  son, 
Philip,  that  he  may  stretch  out  his  haod^^^ 
bver   that    poof  ,^  Buffering    land,/  with  .^ 
millions  of  foithful  believers."  *  ^ 

But  Philip,  though  professing,  (and  pf  r» 
haps  feeling,)  all  manner  of  interest  in  the 
con<Uif6n  of  the  Irish'  fJ^pople,  could  not  yet 
be  persuaded  to  venture  on  sending  an  army 
Ito  their  aid,  having  ever  before  him  the  luck- 
less termination  of  the  last  expedition,  undet 
Don  Juan  d'Aquila.  And  so  it  every  where 
was ;  all  felt,  or  affected  to  feel,  for  the  per- 
secuted Irish,  but  none  would  risk  anything  * 
worth  while  for  their  sake,  and  still  O'Neill 
kept  moving  about,  from  court  tocouijt, hop- - 
-ing  ever,  that  some  one  prince  might  be  Inoved 
to  furnish  some  assistance.  Everjrwhere  he 
carried  with  him,  and  presented,  as  an  elo- 
quent appeal  to  theif  compassion,  some 
account  from  Ireland,  of  some  attrbcity  per- 
petrated ;  but  vain,  vain— all  were  ready  to 
pity,  but  none  to  aid.        ^  ,1        / 

In  the  midst  of  his  toilsome,  yet  fruitlepB 
wanderings,  Q'Neill  was  informed  that  his 
^^pe|Xipn  jn  jmsfbrtune,  the  Barl  of  Ty^ 


■■■.   if^ 


A- 


V 


/y 


J' 


■  ■-■«■ 


Ma)  HAND  OP  UIOTEB. 


r        neO^  had  sunk,  at  Home,  nnde'  the  w^^f 

:      -dsa„dJ^^ 

-„«afi.  among  the  i^i^^ 

<   And  th^n  aslmaJ  v"'^"'  f'^'^^'^i-'^  death. 

°  "•/ ^a?t  Jionrs,  too.     With  «  k    i 
sbirit    an/)  .  _  "•"  "n  a  broken 

pint    and  a  worn-out  ftawe,  O'Neill  „,il 
lay  h.m  down  for  his  last,  lo„:  sieel  L 
a  foreiffn  soil  Qkaii  w  ""8  «*eep»  and  m 

Won.  m«  .  ■         *"  ™«'  ">d  thoujrh 

fc«fore  men,  my  mission  hath  failed  and  tS 

object  of  my  life  be  sfJlI      "'™;  «"d  the 

*l»o«,  whocaLt'Lr!u     "  ""'^'amed,  yet 

WHO  canst  read  the  secrets  of  all  hearts 


BED  BAND  OF  ULSTBE* 


333 


— 4hou  who  seest  tke  entire  devotediiess  of 
mine,  to  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to 
do--.|hou,  I  trust,  wilt  not  hold Jts  failure 

.    against  me,  lyitwilrMye^^^^m^^  my  poor 

soul." 

%^  Though  the  king  of  Spain  would  not  con- 
sent tp  send  an  expedition  to  Ireland,  yet  he 
proved  that  he  really  commiserated  the  suf. 
feringrs  of  her  princes  and  her  people,  for  he 
settled  an  annual  pension,  amply  sufficient 
^suppw-t  their  rank,  on  the  exiled  chiefs. 
Poor  Maguire  died  some  time  after,  at 
Geneva,  being  on  his  way  to  Spain;  and  in 
the  course  of  a  httle  time,  all  the  sorrowing 
survivors  of  that  melancholy  band,  took  up 
their  final  residence  in  the  Eternal  Gity, 
being  desirous  of  terminating  their  mortal 

f  career,  at  the  centime  of  Catholic  feith  and 
unity!,    Xhey  all  dropp^  o^  one  by  one, 

jirithin  a  Jew   years  i?.f   each  other,;mntil 

^'Neill  was  nearly  aloiie.  Gathbar  G'Don- 
neli,  the  young  brother  of  Hugh"  l^e,  sur- 
vived his  brother  Roderick  but  a  short  time; 
and  before  O^Neill  was  himself  summoned 


-r-ir 


from>hi»  terrestrial  scene,  he  saw  the  grave 


* 


9 


y 


tH 


^ 


KBD  HAND  OP  UL8TBB. 


dose  o«  his  feithful  Catherina.  the  deroted 

vious  to  his  death       Tf  i,  j      i         ,  '      ^ 
Cm  fl.«„  tT    -T  ■  ^^  P'^^ed  heaven 

(as  though  with  a.  view  to  sanctify  his  soul 

^-ery  variety  of  suflering)  to  diplS 
of  h.s  Sight  J  and  for  months  before  S 
release,  the  eyes  of  his  body  were  cCd  oL 

h«^outer  world.    HowbuUust  m^O^^^^ 

^-•^.n  retracing  ever.  th.  endless 
clmnges  of  h,s  long  career.  The  glories  of 
his  meridian  years  were  before  him,  but  thev 

SS"^^*°^-'>r^>e'o:JbS 

inspmt,  to  the  ensanguined  fields  of  Clott- 
tibret.  Benburb.  and  the  Yellow  Ford^A 
;;terscenes,^here  his. arms  had  b^;S. 
torious  though  in  a  lesser  degree;  theywZ 
all  bright  with  the  sunny  reflection  from  S^ 
past,  but  they  excited  only  a  mournful  fed! 

Sntii^;itrbyrf-^r 

-id^^ehishet:^^^':^^- 

lui  emphasis^*  «'  Avf  *i,  '"^t**"- 

—• ^         '      -^y '  ^^^^  were  glimpses  of      . 


1  . 


,  , » 


RED  HAND  OP  UlifitBB. 


■  ■^■■r: 


ssa 


what  Ireland  might  become,  were  her  chiefs 
and.  people  actuated  by.jone  comiiioii  spirit 
of  patriotism,  and  boun^4:dgether  by  hatred 
of  oppression  j^but-alasf  what  are  they  now  ? 
what  traces  We  they  left  ?  those  fields  of 
^ght,  so  glorious  in  their  day,  ire  not  my 
poor  faithW  people  still  in  bondage  ?    Mar- 
athon and  Thermopylae  were  not  greater  tri- 
umphs to  the-  Greeks  of  old,  than  were  Clon- 
,  tihretMd  Beal-an-atha-buidhe  tojh0  Irish, 
yet   how   different  the  results  ?    Xh  f  truly 
these  victories  of  ours  are  now  but  saddening 
recollections,  and  so  will  ^ey.  remain  until 
the  day  of  freedoi5.,^wns   on  my  hapless 
country^^^^So^ng  as   leme  is   content  b 
remdp.^  bond-slave  of  tiie  tyrant,  so  long 
will  these  be  thought  upon  with  anything 
but  triumph,"  i 

*' And  yet,"  said  one  to  whom  he  spojie 
thus,^<and  yet  they*  are  calculated  to  foster 
the  hopes  of  Irishmen."  #  ^  i 

"Ay I  therejhou  hast  touched  upon  ihe 
only  thought  connected  with  them,  that 
yields   me  aught  of  consolation,"  returned 


M 


O'Neill,    his     pale    cheek    flushing     \fith 


.  Vv 


*««  *ffl>  HAND  OF  rMTBR. 

▼lew  these  tnumphs  of  >tff  dav  ».•  i:    '^'^  ' 
pomting  auf  the  W  ^^    ^       ^°"'' 

:«^vethehXoftl.BiSST 

over  fields  of  conau^f      W  ^"''  ""y  '^ave 
'    more  permanenf  >    V    L  °^'  """y  ^^^  ^^ 

-,       *^J^  was   to  find  rest:    when   th.*.       i, 
heart  so  l^Vv,      •        >^^    ^nen  that  noble 

variously-gffted  „.W^  t  "^'^  °' *''" 
at    least  L   fa/:.  "^    *''®"" '^  ^^ase,  " 


Mf 


notion 
fes  to 
ike  in 
ippily 
leons^ 
Then  ^ 

ever 
[  the^ 
rout  > 
land* 
end- 
>wei' 

the 

'ave    - 
)ear 
ied . . 

the 

ble 

nd 

ne 

at 

I,—— 


h  ♦•'. 


■^'•Wi 


WSD  HAlTD  OF  XnsottL. 

-  ;^«%wgi>  piMce,tie  great  ehtefli^^o^^ 
.Tyr-owen-t-the  star  of  the  Hy-NUU  iaoe 
•was  AtiU  himsdf,  a^>died  m  a  GathbUc 

-  I)rmc8    should:  .■/^:  dwlhibed-lri*-   not 
lonely,  for  it  was  sunfwinded-  by  cardinals 
and  the^  consecrated  mffiiWen,  of  religion! 

•  <>lmly  he  died,  and:,«  peace  with  all  mah- 
^dr  one  of  Bis  lastf^iclaniations  b^j  ,„ 
bumble  thanksgiving;  that  ii  thfcJiys  ol  his 

^power  and  of  hi^  irfumph,  Ke  had  ii^ver  out- 
laged^he  fMth^or  VWeh  he  foaght,  by  ahy 
act  o{  wanton  cruelty ;  merey  had'  wer  bben 
tfiehi^dmaid  6f,lus,«ctorjes,  aid^^       on 

•  his  bed  of  death  she  rejoiced  that  such  had 
been  the  case...  Even  the"  Supreme  Pontiff 
himself  rejpaired  in  person  to  honor  tha 
death-bed  of  the  illustrious  ehampioff  of 
Ireland  and  QathoUcity;  and  the  last  sound, 
that  fell  uponits  closing  ear;  were  ihe  voices 

Of  the  princes  of  the  chureii;ai  they  offered 
up,  m  concert,  the  prayeft  for  the,dyfng. 
Ihe  last  words  tliat  hovered  ok  ithe  lips  of 

the  dying  chieflaift  :^ei^,  ..^  q^^  ^^ 

mercy  on  wy  sonl^and  ihi^ine'awn  good 
time  refease'my  boiintry  from  bondage  I » 

-     '  A/^      ,  J    ^,       _         -—      t-  "       "  .    -  i4      • 


■% 


H    ■.     '\    V 


<f-r- 


S98 


MD  HANDOr-TOLBTBB. 


^    JTr.  Ti:  ^*"y   'P^   ^    long    been 

^   ^«-^^^  chieftain,  tbt  woS 

Dan^though  relating  to  ai^^^I^^  ^« 
»r  diflferent  stamp :'    ;  ^ 

^*,**°^''  the  consecrated  earth  of' 
^^me.^p. Roderick  and  Cathbar  0*0^  • 

the  titles  and  possessions  of  M,  &„il/^^ 
.ome  years  after  found  strangled  in  1'  W 
m  .Brussels.      With    this    Ifon^y  O'lfeS 

wsuspecSrt';:L'2  Sv^ !? ' 

-^^  aeed,  a.  her  da:^  poUe,^  , 


^ 


■4 


rth  of 

^•bon.  • 

inches 

:  .- 

8t  son 

eiited       , 

■>.*••■* 

ywas 

».': ' 

»  bed 

-  ■  .  -  «■ 

^m 

grreat  ^     1 

IF'  ■■ 
v  ■ 

leto        1 

had        1 

^.•■' ' 

had        1 

KBD  HAND  OP  ULSTEK.  ^Qa 

•  ;>^How  melancholy  i,  the  reflection  sonata- 
wily  suggesting  itself  to  the  mind  that  let 
£  us  go  where  we  wiU  or   may,  through'the 
popnlous  Uuntries  of  the  old  world,  or  the 
nsmg  states  of  the  new,  we.can  find  no  sjfet 
^where  *eme  «  Exile  of  Erin  "  hath  tfot  fonnd  / 
.•restuig. place.      For  centuries  pasf,   th/ 
Jf.blestand  bestof  Ireland's  children  h^e 
b^  driven  forth/  from  their  native  soil,  on 
ohe  ftecount  or  the  othei^  by  the  ^pitUes, 
masters,     who  rule  their  "old  land.     Ever*  ' 
where  theyhave  attained  &me  and  distinc- 
^i  and  in  the  brilliarit  subcess  <,f  many 
ai^ongst    them,   they  have 'tetsed,  up    an     - 
endurmg^reproach  .to.  the    English  ,  name. 
And  yet,^  (how  retributive,  is  the  justice  of 
CodI).  they  have,  on  many  a  fi^ld/wi:eaked 
rengeance  on-  the  Moloch  who  MtH  for  so 
many  ages  trampled  pn  their  i>^try.    On 
.every  battle-field,   whether  of   Eui^ope    or- 
Amerjc^   the  pride   of   Britain    has    been 
humbled,    fcovidence  has  so  prdained  it! 
that  Inshmen,  and  the  sons  of  Irishmen.  ' 
have  been-  arrayed  against  th<;m,  either  ^ 
illnstnous  individuals  or  in  imposing  rant. 


/ 
/  ■ 


/ 


.      AV 


^^g.L     ■         — 


Bo. 


«,  '    > 


MO 


■\- 


to  HAim  OF  tnLBTSB, 


:"'*^-' 


;    Thtw.  in  the  itolewnce  of  her  K«rf„  .  . 

:       f  e  grasping  «elfi«h,e,.  of  1^  Sj   "^ 

>»^t  forth  from   the  land   L    r    ^'.     " 

M it. O'Neills  „dO>n       ^''^"'^d  »o 

,«uu  xyuions;  but  their  descendant*,  ,v 
,^  van  of  mighty  armies,  have  r^S'iu; 
*^^g.  ay.  an  hundred  fold  as  p„\!l 
"•d  many  an  American  field  tni^l^ 
-ho  «m  tell  but  that,  when^thehSroftr 
&>a^  doom  is  come,  the  ari^of  ^Z^^ 
hurl  against  he,  the  deadliest  bw1°'""^. 

.tmnscribeatSl;^"''^*^^ 

brated  Ode  or  Pll'     ^^  °^  *«'  <*J«- 
Uw!!      •    *"  -^'"Sy*  »»  *e  death  of  these 

■  i^V-^f 'M,  and  addressed  to  the  «^ 
Tiywg  Mster  of  those  „oWe-T,rothe«Z 
been    translated    into    EnglisTtT'  • 

Sr".Ma.ga„.i„,,^;tfiuLg^ 
bigb  reputation  as  a  t«nslator.     It'^l  t      1 

-JS^tlgthe^koflSl^S 
2^i  w«h  seve^l  membe«.  of  their 

respective  families,  were  buried  in  the  san,« 
«P.^ ofearth-boing  aU  .ithi,  ,  l^^ 

e«A  Pther-on  a  Peter's  Hill.  ***  *^     fe 


'k'^ 


';' 


B£D  HAND  OF  UL8TBB.' 

■,:  '■•  i.  ;'i  'v  :■•;■■■  '  ;.    •   ■:>  .     " 
"  0  wqmMi  of  ih«  plMToing  w»ll^ 

Who  moomefit  &'«r  yon  moand  of  elajr- 
With  dgh  and  groaa, 
Woal(dl  Ood  thourw«rt  amoog  iho  OmI! 

Tlwa  wouldflt  liok  then,  from,  day  V>  ^J^j 
'"■:"■  -^r?""-  W^p  thu«  idon*. 
TwoM  lop^iMiforiB,  ftround  a  graTO 
In  cpreen  Tyrconnell,  one  eould  find 
ThlploneUn«M; 
N«ar  lirhera  Beann-Boircbe*«  bannon  wato, 
«  I  Such  giiif  aa  tsbioo  ^Id  ne'er  hare  pined 
^  .   Oompi^nlua.         ^ 

•.     ■  ■ !  ■  '  y     .'■  ■ 

'■ .  .:         ■■  -•'■  ■■;■■■■'■   v  '       ■■  '.■    , 
Beside  the  wiiTe,  in  Donegal, 

In  ^trim's  glenB,  or  fidr  DromoN,  - 

OrKimiee,       .; 

Or  wher^  the  eunny  waten  CaU| 

At  Ataroe,  Dfur  firne'i  ahor*,. 

*  This  could  not  be. 

On  Derry'B  pl^na,  in  rich  pruimolieff, 

Throughout  Anriagh.  the  grejt,  reflowned 

In  oldon  years,       ^^^^ 

No  day  could  paw  but  womon'lB  grief, 

'■■■    Would  rain  upon  the  burial-ground, 

Freeh  floods  of  teanll 


Ml 


i« 


V 


Oi,  no!  firom  Sbaninoni  Boyne,  and  Salr|i> 
From  higl^  Dunluee's  eaette-walla, 
FromUniadiU, 
Would  flock  alike,  both  rich  and  poor; 
One  mil  5r6uld  rise  from  Oruaoluui'i  baUi 
•      ToT»ra'8hiU;    ' 
Ahd  some  would  come  from  Barrow'ii  ilde, 
Aiid  many  a  uuUd  wouldieaTe  her  homey 
On  Leitrim'e  phdhs. 
And  by  melodious  Banna's  tide, 


And  by  the  Mourne,  and  BmOj  to 
'  iu^d  swell  thy  etrainst 


.....mof'-t'-ims^^^&^f'- 


BflT  HAND   OF  .ULSTBK. 


" » 


T^o  prine«tf  oftha  lliw  ofClonn, 
. '  8lMp  in  %li«ir  e«lli  of  oUy,  bMldf 

O'DoDimll  Bo«; 
Urn  royal  jroothi,  alaa!  ars  gona, 


Who  liTed  for  Krin'a  waal,  but  <11«| '  /^ 

■'  For  Erin'i  woa!'  \    \ 
iib!  eonld  th«  mettoflraland  n«4 
The  names  them  no^iBleu  burial-«tOQCi|f  j'  •  ' 

SiapUj  to  ▼tew,     ,  .   / 

their  wovnded  heart  aflrmh  would  bleed,  ' 

Thehr  tears  gush  forth  again,  their  groahi 
-      Besottnd  anew! 

The  youths  whose  relics  moulder  here,     *      T      '    f 
Were  sprung  fmax  Hugh,  high  prince  and  lotd       "  \. ' 
OfAileach'sUhdji;  .  ' 

Hiy  noble  brothers,  Justly  dear, 
Thy  nephew,  long  to  be  deplored, 

;'  By  Ulster's  bandt.  "  ■'.  ' 

ThelraW^  not  souls  wheifvlh  dull  time . 
Oonld  domicile  decay,  or  house 
Decrepitude! 
They  passed  from  earth,  ere  manhood's  ptimt^ 
Ite  years  had  power  to  dhn  their  brows, 
Or  chill  their  blood.  ,' 

0,  had  theae  tiWft,  and  he,  the  third,    ^ 
The-Lord  of  Mourne^  O'NUtPs  son, 

;        Their  mate  in  death;  %^ 

▲  prince  in  look,  in  deed,  aud  word,  ; 

Bad  these  three  heroes  yielded  on  , 

The fleld,  their  breath; 

0,  had  they  &llen  on  (MOan's  plain,   r;  ,      i 

_  There  would  not  beatowhorchmWv  '  i.  -i 

'Promflhoretosea,      ;  .    '  ^'r '■'■''?:■'.:  y-r-.  ■■'\' 
But  would,  with  shrieks,  bewail  the  slalh,       . 
Or  ciiant  aloud  th' exulting  ronn* 


.» 


Of  jubilee! 

*  Sung  or  strain. 


•M. 


BED   HAND   OF 


.'V 


ULSTER. 

#•'■■:'.■■■.■•' 

Wb«n  high  th*  ihont  of  Mttle  rOM, 
On  Itoldi  where  ftpeedom'«  torch  iUU  bMtt'd, 
Thro' Erlq'i  gloom,  |^ 

if  oiM,  If  bawlj  on«  of  thoM  . 
-  Wew  iWn,  all  Dl«ter  would  hafB.nMtam'i^ 
^  The  hero's  doopi! 

If  At  Attiboj,  where  hoete  of  br»T«  , 
'  Uli<Uaii  horwinen  tmiak,  iMneath  '>i/ 

v  Thw  ihock  of  spean.  ^\ 

•  •rbe^Hugh  O'Neill  had  (touod  ft  gtmTe, 
IJbng  muat  the  north  h»Te  wept  his  deathi 
With  heart-wrung  tev»i 


84S 


Wdat^do  I  aayt— ah!  woe  la  bmI 
,     Ahready  do  we  wall  in  Tain  \ 

f  Their  btal  fall! 

And  Erin,  once  the  g)«at  and  flwe, 
■ovr  tainly  moumB  her  breakleM  ohalOf 
"         And  iron  thrall! 
•'Then,  daughter  of  O'Donnell,  dry 

Thine  werflowing  eyes,  and  turn        '' 
*         .      ",    Thy  heart  aside, 
For  Avon's  race  la  bom  to  die, 
And/sternly  the  sepulchral  ntn 
Mocks  human  pride! 


lAoK  not,  nor  righ  ft*r  earthly  throne, 
Nor  place  thy  trust  In  arm  of  clay ; 
But  on  thy  knpes 
Uplift  thy  soul  to  God  alAne; 

or  all  things  go  their  destined  way 

Ashe  decrees.  _ 

jkbrace  the  fiathftal  oruelflzi 
Ad  seek  the  path  of  pidn  and  prayor, 
Tliy  Sarior  trod; 


* 


or  lei  thy  spirit  intermix 
( With  earthly  hope  and  worldly  care, 
ItB  groans  to  God! 


•■'It'   'S. 


U4 


HAND  OF  VLamn. 

And  Uwo,  oh  mightr  iflwl,  whoi*  iy. 
Am  ^  abovw  our  fc«bi«  tBiadi 
•  To  ntidcnitMid,  ;jr-^' 
iwtain  tu  in  thM«  dotofbl  daja, 
pAad  MKWr  Hght,  tti*  ebato  ttwt  (bar 

'  OurflUUn  bnd! 
I4»k  down  upon  oar  dnnry  atat*, 
And  thro'  thu  afM,  that  tamy  ■tUI       /^ 
Roll  ittdlj  on, 
Wsteh  thou  o'or  hapleM  Erin't  fliti^  \ 
And  shield,  at  l«Mt,  from  darkor  m^\ 
Tha  blood  of  Conn."  \ 


l'\ 


* 


THE    END, 


.y 


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